§ Lieut.-Commander Fletcherasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that recently one British ship has been sunk in Far Eastern waters by air attack, another so seriously damaged by air attack that she has had 601W to be beached, a third fired upon when the British Vice-Consul at Shanghai was on board, while a British warehouse has also been seriously damaged by air attack; and what action he is taking to secure a cessation of such attacks upon British ships and property in the Far East, which are increasing in frequency?
§ Viscount CranborneThe hon. and gallant Member is no doubt referring to the events at Wuhu on 5th December when one British ship was gutted and a second had to be beached after being struck by bombs from Japanese aircraft, and to the attack on the steamship "Siushan" from Tsungming Island on 4th December. In regard to the former, the Admiral Commanding-in-Chief on the China Station at once addressed a protest to the Japanese Admiral, who replied with a message of regret for the incident. Further, His Majesty's Ambassador in Tokyo has made representations to the Japanese Government.
As regards the attack on the steamship "Siushan," my present information lends to show that the firing was carried out by Chinese troops. If further inquiries which are being made by His Majesty's Consul-General at Shanghai confirm this, representations will be addressed to the Chinese Government.