Sir A. Knox asked the. Minister' of Labour whether, as M. Maurette, Assistant Director of the International Labour Office, furnished a report recently on labour conditions in Japan, hho will suggest to the office that qualified representative © should be sent on an analogous mission to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics?
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour (Mr. RS, Hudson): The inquiry to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers was ar-Fanged under the instructions of the Government Body of the Internation al Labour Organization and in agreement with the Government concerned, and other inquiries of the same character would have to be conducted in a similar manner. My right hon. Friend will, however, note my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion.
Sir A. Knox: Will the hon. Gentleman make representations "to. that effect and suggest to the International Labour Office that it is a fitting sub-Yet for inquiry?
Viscountess Astor: Would not the best way be for the hon. and galant Gentleman to go to Geneva and help the League on?
Sir A. Knox: Is it not possible for: the hon. Gentleman to answer my question?
Mr. T. Smith asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the recent commercial agreement between, the Japanese and Estonian Governments granting most-favoured-nation treatment to both countries,—but stipulating that this provision is not to apply to any preferential tariff which may be granted by Japan to Manchoukuo or to the Republic of China; and whether he will represent to the Japanese Government that this provision is incompatible with Feapect to Article Tof the Nine-Power Treaty, and to the Estonian Government that its assent to this Provision is inconsistent with the acceptance of the Assembly Re-ort of February 24, 1933, and par-Heularly with the obligation not to recognize the existing regime. in Manchuria either de facto or de jure contained in that Report.
Sir J. Simon: The provisions of! the Japanese-Eastonian agreement to which the hon. Member refers were duly reported to me. The question Of the relevance of the provisions of the Assembly's Report to the matter ig primarily one for the Advisory Committee set up by the Assembly to follow the: Sino-Japanese dispute.
The British Industrial Mission Mr. Banfeld asked.the Secretary. of State for Foreign Affairs whether hho has received any protest from the Chinese government with regard to the despatch of the British Industrial Mission to Manchuria; and if so, Whether he can state its nature and the British reply to it?
The Secretary of State for Foreiga Affairs (Sir John Simon): No, Sir. In reply, however, to certain observations made by the Chinese Legation before the departure of the mission for Manchuria, the opportunity was taken to emphasize its. entirely non-political and unofficial character.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.