§ Mr. Hamilton Kerrasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has yet received the expected report on the facilities allowed to British shipping for loading and unloading cargoes at the Chinese coastal ports in Japanese occupation, with particular reference to Tsingtao and Chefoo.
§ Mr. ButlerYes, Sir. The latest information received indicates that the position at the principal coast ports is as follows. At Shanghai there is no interference with British shipping. At Tientsin the situation is generally speaking satisfactory. At Chefoo conditions are on the whole worse than in 1937, but there has been no discrimination for the past 18 months, in which period working conditions have remained the same. At Tsingtao the additional wharves are still available and improved conditions continue, but the berths allotted to Third Power shipping are very exposed and have inadequate go-down accommodation, so that some delay is being experienced by British shipping. At Canton weekly sailings under the agreement with the Japanese are at present suspended by mutual arrangement, but negotiations are still proceeding.
727W
§ Mr. Kerrasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has yet received a report on the freedom of transit available for British ships through the inland waterways of China other than the Yangtze?
§ Mr. ButlerYes, Sir. According to my latest information, there has been no change in the situation during the past year and all inland waterways remain closed to British shipping.