§ Sir A. Russellasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure that British subjects in Ichang, on the Yangtze, have means of subsistence, in view of the fact that they have had great difficulty in obtaining supplies owing to an attempted boycott, and are not allowed to buy foodstuffs from Japanese shops?
§ Mr. ButlerFrom information received from His Majesty's Consul-General at Hankow, it appears that a complaint about the difficulty of obtaining supplies at Ichang was made last July, but that 1427W the situation subsequently eased again. One further complaint was received this February and the matter has been taken up with the Japanese authorities, who had on the previous occasion offered to facilitate the hiring of a truck to carry supplies. His Majesty's Consul-General is taking steps to ascertain the present position.
§ Sir A. Russellasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action he has taken to protect British interests, in view of the attitude of the Japanese military authorities, as a result of which nearly all British and foreign shipping on the Yangtze has remained idle during the past year; and whether he has considered refusing port facilities to Japanese shipping in British ports, including those in the Dominions and Colonies?
§ Mr. ButlerIn December, 1939, the Japanese declared their intention to reopen the lower Yangtze shortly. No steps have yet been taken however to implement that declaration, and the river continues to be closed to British and other third Power shipping. This question cannot be separated from that of the general policy of Japan towards British and other foreign interests in China, on which I made a statement in the House on 2nd April. To that statement I have at present nothing to add.