While in no way questioning the propriety of the grant to the former British Ambassador, Lt.-Col. Sir Edward Grigg, National Conservative member for the Aitrincham division of Cheshire, pointed out that it creat-ea a new precedent, and asked when ther it was to be generally applied in the cases of other distinguished officers wounded or killed in the discharge of their duty in the diplomatic service.
Mr. Geoffrey Mander, Opposition! Liberal member for East Wolverhampton, also asked' whether the Japanese Government would be press-! ed to repay to the British Government the grant to Sir Hughe Knatchbull-Hugessen. He contended that this was the very least they should be expected to do.
In reply, Mr. Butler admitted that the grant to the former Ambassador was unprecedented. He said that any case of this sort must be considered on its merits in future. It remained, in the view of the Government, that this was no matter to be} condoned by the payment of a monetary grant by the Japanese, Repayment for Evacuation In regard to the refugees from Shanghai, Mr, Butler said that between August 17 and August 24 last year 4,058 persons, including 3,800 British subjects, were sent to Hongkong.
About 3,300, Britons, he declared paid for their accommodation in Hongkong themselves, the remaining 500 becoming a charge on the Government. Many of the latter had money which they were unable -to obtain from the area of hostilities, and it was, therefore, perfectly legitimate for the Government to ask them to repay.
Mr. Arthur Henderson, member for the Kingswinford division of Staffordshire, asked in regard to those not in a position to pay.
Mr. Butler replied that the Gove: ment was actuated by humanitarian principles, He then pair! a tribute to the British Consular, representatives who; handied the evacuation of the re: fagees. They/had to work very hard, with no regular hours, while their responsibilities were immense.
Hankow "Neutral Zone"
Mr, Butler mentioned that, before their evacuation, refugees were asked to undertake to repay the cost of their passage to and maintenance at! Hongkong, but that as many of them were in straitened circumstances they were unable to pay this preliminary expense themselves.
Referring to the British subjects who fled to Hankow, Mr. Butler gave an assurance that the future position of Hankow would be carefully watched, especially the possibility of establishing a zone which would be free, as far as possible, from war if it should ever reach Hankow.
"Lam happy to say," the Under-Secretary continued, "that the health of Sir Hughe Knatchbull-Hugessen is improving steadily, and we sincerely hope that he will be restored, so as to enable him to continue to render the conspicuous service to his coun: try which he has given in the past,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.