§ Mr. STOURTONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps the Government propose to take to protect British commercial interests in China in face of the continuing exploitation of that country by Japan with the aid of armed forces?
§ Sir S. HOAREBoth the Japanese and Chinese Governments are fully aware of the attitude of His Majesty's Government towards the protection of British interests in China. The situation there, and particularly in North China, is of course being closely watched by His Majesty's Ambassador, but at the moment it does not appear to call for any special steps for the purpose which my hon. Friend has in mind.
§ Sir J. WARDLAW-MILNEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the present situation in Northern China?
§ Sir S. HOAREI hope I may have an opportunity in the course of this afternoon's Debate of making a statement which will be fuller than anything I could306W say in answer to a question. Perhaps my hon. Friend will be good enough to wait for it.
§ Mr. MACLEANasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received any report from Sir Frederick Leith-Ross on the situation in China, in particular on the strength or otherwise of the autonomy movement there; and, if so, whether he can make any statement?
§ Sir S. HOARESir F. Leith-Ross has sent a number of reports on the events in China, including the autonomy movement, in their bearing on the financial situation. There is so much that is hypothetical in the situation that I am not in a position to make any statement upon it from this point of view.
§ Mr. HALL-CAINEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps have been taken to protect British interests in the states of Hopei and Chahar, in North China, in view of the developments in those two provinces?
§ Sir S. HOAREI would invite my hon. Friend's attention to the answer which I returned to-day to a somewhat similar question asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Salford, South (Mr. Stourton).