London, Nov. 23.
Reflecting the anxiety of members, the situation in the International Settlement in Shanghai was the subject of numerous questions in the House of Commons to-day.
Mr. William Wedgwood Benn (Labour) set the ball rolling by seeking an assurance from Mr. Antony Eden, the Foreign Secretary, that the conditions under which the International Settlement was held and administered would be in no way varied without the Chinese Government's consent.
The Settlement, Mr. Eden said in reply, was administered under Land Regulations which could not be modified without the Chinese Government's consent.
Mr. Benn asked if the House was to understand that the demands which had apparently been made' by the Japanese General at Shanghai could not be accepted.
"That is a different question," answered the Foreign Secretary. "My reply has been carefully drafted and, I think, will be found to cover the question."
Mr. Benn then asked if it meant that the Shanghai Municipality would in no way be made agents for the Japanese Army in pursuance of their policy there.
Those were important questions, Mr. Eden declared. He would pre-for to see them on paper.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.