Lord Plymouth added that they Jcould not agree that the Treaty was obsolete, oF that its provisions "no longer met the situation, except x0 far fas the situation had been altered by Japan, in contravention of its terms.
'The' British Government contended that treaties "are not eternal," and if the Japanese Government, "or any Jother signatory, had any constructive Suggestions to" make regarding the points on which it was thought the Treaty might be improved, the British Government would be Feady to consider them, and to enter into negotiations with all other signatories regarding the modifeations suggested.
Similarly, the Government was. always ready to resume negotiations. with the Chinese Government on the Jsubject of extraterritoriality, and Jother similar questions, when' peace had been restored.
Tokyo Reply Stilt Awaited A Note embodying these points had jocen addressed to the Japanese Gov-Jernment on January 14, but "so far the "Japanese Government has: not seen it to return any reply:
'Lord Plymouth said that he hi Jalways pointed out that in the view Jot the Government, no measures such fas some of those Lord Strabolgi had. described were really of any use in solving this dimeulty, or in' helping, the situation, unless they were to be effective measures.
measures of the Kind Lord Strabolgi had described, such as leconomie sanctions of various kinds, were attempted, it was absolutely Jessential that action should be taken all the interested parties at the jaime time.
Lord Plymouth declared that he wanted to draw the attention of the House to the various ways in which, the Government had assisted the Chinese Government in an extremely sult position. Since the beginning lof the war, they had kept Hongkong Jopen as a' means of communication jweith China. That channel could no longer be made use of when Canton fell." Inaddition, Britain had built a road from Burma to the Chinese border.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.