§ Captain P. MACDONALDasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is satisfied that the arrival of additional Japanese troops in Tientsin is in accord with treaty provisions concerning the integrity of China; and whether the British Government proposes to take any action in this matter?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAs my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs explained to the House on 5th December, recent troop movements in the Peking-Tientsin area have apparently been those of forces which Japan is entitled under the International Boxer Protocol of 1901 to maintain south of the Great Wall; the answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.
§ Mr. GALLACHERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement to the House regarding the situation in North China; what is the policy of His Majesty's Government towards the establishment of an autonomous council in North China covering the five provinces; is it the intention of His Majesty's Government to invoke the Treaty of Washington guaranteeing the territorial integrity of China; have any other of the signatories of the 1147W treaty been consulted as to the necessity for action to safeguard the integrity of China; and, if so, whether any international action is in contemplation for the purpose of guarding the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of China?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAs regards the first two parts of the question, I can only refer the hon. Member to the statement made to the House by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on 5th December, and to the answer given yesterday to the hon. Member for Govan (Mr. Maclean), to which I have nothing at the moment to add. As regards the last three parts of the question the facts of the situation are at present too obscure to make it possible to say whether or how far the Nine Power Treaty of Washington is relevant to them.
§ Mr. MACLEANasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's representatives in Northern China are keeping His Majesty's Government informed as regards the development of the alleged autonomy movement in that area of China; and whether he can make any statement on the matter?
§ The PRIME MINISTERYes, Sir; the situation is still, however, obscure, and I have nothing at present to add to the statement made to the House by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on 5th December.