London, June 9. regret at the lives lost as the re-
In the House of Commons to-da sult of the misguided agitation. replying to questions by Mr. F.
Pethick-Lawrence (Labour) and Mr C.P. Trevelyan (Labour) with regard to the troubles in China, Mr.
Ronald McNeill, Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, emphasized that the international authorities on the spot had faced a situation of imminentdanger'te life ud: property and could not wait to obtain instructions from their Governments before taking the necessary steps to restore law.and order. He deeply regretted the attack by the forces of disorder,, conducted -behind a screen of misguided students, but the British Consul-General of Shanghai, with whom, it was understood, the American, French, Italien and Japanese representatives were in full.agreement, reported that the police had been most patient and could not have acted otherwise than as they did.
The British Government, Mr, Me-Neill went on, were confident that the Chinese Government were anxious to cooperate with the other Governments concerned in reaching an equitable and. satisfactory solution to the deplorable affair. He emphasized that law and order must be restored and maintained in the International Settlement. The Government woitld give all the necessary support to the British officials con the spot.
Mr. MeNeill expressed sympathy with the Chinese people and deep The policy of His Majesty's Government towards China, whose. traditions and civilization we admired, with whose national aspinaons we sympathized, who was our ally inthe war and with whom we are united by close, long-standing. ties was animated by the sole concern that China should—become Peaceful and prosperous. The British Government recognised their obligation to help China in this task and looked to the forthcoming tariff conference to provide opportunity of doing 30 in couperatic with the other Powers. Meanwhil he trusted that nothing would be done to prejudice or postpone those hopes.
Replying to Mr. Trevelyan with regard to the origin of the trouble in Shanghai, Mr. MeNeill said that recounts were conflicting but the policy of His Majesty's Government. Fad long been to use, their influence China to ameliorate labour con-
Ramsay MacDonald asked Whether the Government were enquiring into the industrial origin of the troubles, Mr. MacNeill eaid that the Go-Nernment were inviting the fullest information with regard to the whole incident. He did not admit that the conditions in the mills in Shanghai were the sole cause of the outbreak, but expressed the opinion that this' was one of the many interigled causes—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.