Mr. De la Bèreasked the Prime Minister whether, since the American and Russian Embassies in China enjoy more favourable geographical proximity to the headquarters of the Chinese Government and so have easy access for commercial discussions and negotiations, he will consider moving the British Embassy to an equally favourable geographical position?
§ Mr. ButlerWhile his headquarters are at Shanghai, His Majesty's Ambassador pays frequent visits to Chungking and is in fact now there. When he is not at Chungking, contact is maintained with the National Government through the offices of His Majesty's Embassy, which are in charge of a senior member of the Embassy staff. These arrangements have been found to be most convenient in practice for the maintenance of touch with the British interests in different parts of China, and my Noble Friend does not consider that any modification is at present called for.