§ Captain P. MACDONALDasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any reply has yet been received from the Government of Japan to the last communication of His Majesty's Government with regard to the oil monopoly which has been established in Manchukuo; whether any estimate has been, or is being, formed of the loss to British interests caused by such monopoly; and whether compensation will be asked for at an early date?
§ Sir S. HOAREThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. If, however, my hon. and gallant Friend will refer to the reply which my predecessor gave to a question put by him on this subject on 29th April, he will see that the communication from His Majesty's Government in question reserved their position in the fullest degree, and the fact that no reply has been received does not in my view prejudice their position. As regards the second and third parts of the question, I indicated in the reply which I gave in answer to a question put on 17th June by my hon. and gallant Friend that the conditions of withdrawal, which include the question of compensation, were already the subject of discussion between1876W the companies and the Manchurian authorities. No approach to His Majesty's Government regarding this aspect of the matter has been made by British interests affected, and particulars of the loss involved are not therefore available.