London, Nov. 3.
"It is impossible, on the data available at present, to give an estimate of the losses sustained by British trade in and around Shanghai as a result of Japanese attacks there," declared Mr. Oliver Stanley, President of the Board of Trade, in reply to Mr. William Gallacher, Communist member for West Fife, in the House of Commons yesterday.
In answer to Mr. A, V. Alexander, Labour member for Hillsborough, Sheffield, Mr. (liver said that the preliminary figures of monthly trade returns showed a marked decline in China's trade. The Foreign Office, he added, was collecting claims for damage there, but no information was yet available.
"Japanese Encroachment The Shanghai situation is the subject of two letters sent to Mr. Antony Eden, the Foreign Secretary, following a meeting of a committee, headed by It-Gen, Sir George Mac-Donough, representing the China Association, the Federation of British Industries, and the Chambers of Commerce in Bradford, London and Manchester.
Grave concern is expressed in one letter at the "continued encroachment of the Japanese in the International Settlement in Shanghai and their interference with the services of the Shanghai Municipal Council."
It is suggested these matters should be discussed with the representatives of the Powers concerned at the Brussels Conference to formulate a common policy on the International Settlement and avoid any exploitation of the position by either of the belligerent parties when hostilities cease.
The other letter expresses the hope that opportunity will be taken at the Nine-Power Conference to consider, in conjunction with the representatives of the other Powers concerned, the principles on which claims for compensation and damage arising from the Sino-Japanese hostilities should be based.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.