Mr. Mander: Is it not a fact that fan impression has been widely ereated in the Far East that this visit is a. preliminary to a change of policy on the part of the British Government; and ain I to understand that there is no intention whatever of making any change?
Mr. Boothby: Has the attention of my right hon. Friend been drawn to statements made by members of this commission on policy in favour of the revival "of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance; and, in view of misunder. standings that might be created, may we take it from my right hon. Friend that these satements have no author ity from the British Government?
'Sir J. Simon: They certainly have authority whatever. I-am_ not prepared to accept as necessarily \curate everything that I read in the papers. 1, therefore, make no com: ment on what may' have happened, Dut there can be no doubt that this commission and every member of was entirely unofficial and had no authority to make any declaration on, policy.
Mr. Hannen: Is it not a fact that the work of this commission has been a distinct advantage to British trade in that part of the wor Sir J. Simon: Yes, but it is fust well to keep commercial and poli-teal affairs separate.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.