Total of £8,000 Listed; Reuters News Agency Given Large Sums for September Broadcasts London, Mar. 7. TOTAL of £8,000 was devoted to the evacuation and housing of British refugees from China on the outbreak of hostilities in 1937, Mr, R. A, Butler, Foreign Affairs Under-Secretary, announced in the House of Commons today during the debate upon. the Foreign Office Credits Bill which was eventually adopted this evening by a vote of raised hands after a Labour amendment had been defeated by 207 to 121. The Bill provides £259,087 for Foreign Office works.
In moving the Bill providing credits for the coming fiscal year, Mr, Butler also announced that large sums had been paid to Reuters news agency during the September Czech crisis last year for broadcasts made from Leafield Station to Europe and the Far East and from Rugby Station to the world, He stated the value "of this deci" sion' will be appreciated when it is understood that some 20,000 words were going out daily from some American news agencies."
With regard to the expenditure of £8,000 upon the evacuation of Brit-Ish nationals in China, Mr. Butler specified that arrangements had been made by the Navy and Consular authorities with local - committees. Between August 17 and 24, no fewer than 3800 British subjects had been sent to Hongkong in six ships, while about 3300 others looked after and ald for themselves, he added.
'During the debate, Mr. D. R. Grenfell, Labour muraber for Gower, Glamorgan, moved an amendment symbolically to reduce the Foreign Ofice credits by £100, 'He criticized the Government' for: eign policy and demanded an investi-of the activities of Sir Robert Frodgson, British Agent in. Burgos prior to'London's recognition of the Nationalist Spanish Government. Tie also voiced his disapproval of the despatch of Viscount. Runciman to Prague during the September crisis 1938 Mr, Charles Williams, Conservative member for Torquay, Devon, congra tulated the Foreign OMice upon work done in evacuating British citizens from the war areas of China in August, 1997.
"A great number of our own people who lived in China," he stated, Shed considerable trouble in many ways and incurred great danger. We have heard so much about other people snd foreigners that I do not Shine there is eny great harm Englishman soying that the Govern ment's relief money. is spent gladly, fand in. congratulating the Foreign (ig on the work they have done in Chi
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