§ 20. Squadron-Leader Hollisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any statement to make on the present situation in Manchuria.
Mr. McNeilThere have been delays, the reasons for which are obscure, in the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Manchuria, the date for which as agreed between the Chinese and Soviet Governments was to have been 1st February. I understand that the evacuation of Soviet troops from Mukden was completed on 12th March and that Chinese Government forces moved into the city on the same day.
276WReports have reached His Majesty's Government of the removal by Soviet forces of Japanese machinery and equipment from Manchuria. His Majesty's Government sent a communication to the Soviet Government on 9th March referring to these reports and recording their view that the disposal of Japanese assets is a matter for discussion and settlement between the Allied nations havingclaims to Japanese reparations. The communication added that His Majesty's Government could not acquiesce in the unilateral removal of such assets by a third party from the country in which the assets are located, nor could they recognise any agreement between individual Governments which purported to provide for the final disposal and ownership of Japanese property rights, interests and assets. The Chinese Government have been informed of this communication.
I understand that both the Chinese Government and the United States Government have communicated with the Soviet Government in similar terms