Mr. Kirkwood:—Arising out the original answer, is the Foreign Secretary aware that the same kind of negotiation that is now being carried through with this company in China was going on during the Labour Government's tenure office, and that the Labour Government turned it down, the reason being that we have no claim on this and at all, and yet, if anything happens in China, our Forces will be sent out to defend this land, which not ours at all, but which belongs to the Chinese? '[iten. Members "Speech! T would like a reply.
Sir A. Chamberlain:—I do not know whether this is the proper time for a d T must rot make a speech in answer to the one Which the Hon. Gentleman has delivered. I do not know to what he is referring when he talks about this company." It is for the very reason that we are not prepared to employ our Forces in guarding this property that we are unable to sell it with a marketable title.
Colonel Wedgwood:—-May I ask the Right Hon, Gentleman two questions? In the first place, why faze we not having a continuous policy in this matter; and, secondly, fs it not the fact that these lease holders have bought and sold their title to the land for a long period of years, always subject to the British Government's right of reversion? tered into every transaction concerning this land, and why are we now surrendering it?
Sir A, Chamberlain:—We are surrendering the right of reversion because His Majesty's Government feel that it is incompatible with the newer conditions in China that we should continue to occupy the position of ground-landlords in that country.
Mr. Kirkwood rose—
Mr, Speaker:—We must not continue to debate the matter.
It was stated that the builder' answered the questions very successfully, and the Bench dismissed the case.
Peace and Prosperity Conference It was perhaps only a ebincidence, ago by a group of leading business more than a thou-ons of capital.
cipal objects of the conference will be consideration of cer-
The debate at the General Council seem to have reached a very high level, and there is a good deal of but certainly it was a happy augury, tai fundamental factors in indus-fellowship among employers that on the eve of Christmas, the General Council of the Trades Union Council reached a decision which may have far-reaching effects in the promotion of industrial peace and prosperity. They agreed on Tuesday, by a considerable majority, to accept an invitation to a joint conference sent to them a month and industrial relations; and direct negotiation, with the twin objects of the storation of industrial prosperity and the corresponding improvement in the standard of living of the population No date has been fixed for the conference, but it may take employed. There was a, minority against acceptance of the invitation, including Mr. A. J. Cook, the miners? secretary. A vigorous reply came from Mr. J. H, Thomas, who denounced the Left Wing policy of continuous strife, and sai place in the middle of January. to the employers
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.