§ 90. Mr. Tilneyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further information he has about the retention by the Chinese of Captain Ray of m.v. "Anchises" and Mr. Duff of m.v. "Glenfalloch"; whether he will propose to the Chinese a joint inquiry into the extent to which these men were carrying out the regular international procedure for entering harbours; and what he is doing to safeguard the personnel of the Ocean Steamship Company, whose ships have now been withdrawn from Chinese territorial waters, so that Sino-British trade can be resumed.
§ Mr. George ThomsonI summoned the Chinese Chargé d'Affaires on 20th March and expressed our grave concern at the detention of Captain Ray and Mr. Duff. Representations on similar lines had been made to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 19th March. The Chinese assured us that both officers are in good 269W health and that when the Shanghai authorities had completed their investigations the matter would be dealt with speedily. We shall, of course, continue to keep in close touch with the Chinese authorities. In our approaches to the Chinese Government we have emphasised the need for British shipping companies to be kept fully informed of any changes in harbour regulations which could lead to misunderstandings.