§ Mr. MORGAN JONESasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement as to the negotiations with the Government of Japan with a view to a discussion among the great Powers of the agenda for the Round Table Conference at Shanghai; whether it is proposed that the Chinese Government shall participate from the outset in these negotiations; whether he can give an assurance that His Majesty's Government will not participate in any such discussion except with the full participation of the 558W Chinese Government; and that no attempt will be made to secure the agreement of the Chinese Government to any change in the status of the international settlements at the present moment, in view of the resolution of the Assembly of the League of 11th March to the effect that the seeking of a settlement under the stress of military pressure is contrary to the spirit of the covenant?
§ Mr. EDENA confidential discussion, which it would be inaccurate to describe as negotiations, was recently initiated by the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs with certain of the foreign Ambassadors at Tokio on the subject of the conference to be set up In Shanghai in accordance with the proposal put forward by the President of the Council of the League of Nations on 29th February last. It would, of course, be impossible to hold any such conference without the participation of the Chinese Government. The agenda of the conference has not yet been considered or discussed, but the conference, when held, will certainly be governed by the principles laid down in the Assembly resolutions.