NXIETY concerning the critical situation in north China was expressed by Sir Samuel Hoare, the Foreign Secretary, in a speech during the debate on foreign affairs in the House of Commons last evening.
There was a serious cloud, he declared, on the Chinese horizon namely, the so-called autonomy movement in north China.
Reports had been rife of the activities of Japanese ents, and the recent movements of Japanese troops had also been supposed to be connected with the autonomy movement.
"These reports," he continued, "caused the British Government considerable anxiety. The Charge d'Affaires in Tokyo was, therefore, specially instructed to inform the Japanese Government of our concern and to say that we should welcome a frank statement of Japanese policy."
The Charge d'Affaires was informed, Sir Samuel proceeded, that the autonomy movement was purely a Chinese movement, that the Japanese Government were watching it closely in view of their great interests in north China, and that any idea of Japan planning military intervention was entirely unfounded.
No Japanese troops, the British iChargé d'Affaires in Tokyo was also Hold, has been moved into China 28 dimevlties of China and the disorganlization of Chinese currency with a result of the autonomy movement. consequent danger to China and jand even the garrisons in Peiping and Tientsin were below the quota industrial and commerce Interesta it seemed desirable that some rem-strength, The troop movements near jady should be found. Inthe view Peiping wore the movements of jof the British Government. there forces already south of the Great Jconld be no satisfactory solution of [Wall, where Japan was entitled to [China's dimculties without the felendmaintain troops. These had been ce-operation of all the countries prompted by tke alleged removal of Jeoncerned, including China herself. rolling stock.
"Im pursuance of these ideas," Sir 'The Foreign Secretary said the Samuel said, "we decided to' send situation was very obscure, but Sir Frederick Leith-Ross to the Far trusted that the conversations profEost_on a mission of investigation, ceeding between the Chinese and jatthough other governments did not Japanese Governments would result accede to our suggestion that they amicable settlement of any might take a similar course. After spending some weeks in Tokyo, Sir could only regard it. as_un-Frederick proceeded to Shanghai and fortunate that events should have began investigations In consultation Jeceurred which, whatever the actual with the Chinese authorities." truth, might lend colour to the belief that "Japanese influence was being In the reids of these discussions, exerted to shane Chinese internal he proceeded, the Chinese Govern: political developments and administrament, owing to a sudden exchange five arrangement crisis, felt compelled to take swift, Anything tending to create this set inn, and, on November 4, a decree. belief, Sir Samuel added, enuld only wag issued changing the basis of the jharm Japanese prestige and hamper [Chinese currency. the development, which all desired, "Sir Samuel emphasized that of the friendliest mutual relations be-"the Chinese Government took this tween Japan and China and. her action on their own initiative and neighbours an' friends, without secking the advice of Sir Predoriek Leith-Ross."
Sir F. Leith-Ross' aitsston 'The' reports they had received Spenking of the Mission to the Far Juitherto, the House was told, indica East of Sir Frederick Leith-Ross. feet that the currency reform scheme Chief Economic Adviser to the hhed been well-received and already. British Government, the Foreign Sec-hod had a good effect in restoring Iretary recalled the growing financial confidence—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.