London, Aug. 4. op certain circumstances we might find it necessary to send a fleet out there (to the Far East)," the Prime Minister, Mr, Neville Chamberlain, declared in the House of Commons this afternoon in reply to a question by Mr. Philip Noe) Baker, Labour member for Derby.
"At the same time, we would much rather settle our differences with the Japanese by discussions and negotiations, provided that we can do so without sacrificing what we conceive to be fundamental consideration and principles, than do it by threat of force," the Prime Minister added.
"At the present moment, we have not got a Far Eastern fleet superior to that of the Japanese.
We have such a fleet here."
He then declared that in special circumstances, a fleet might be sent to Far Eastern waters, "Even if we determined tomorrow that we were going to the Jast extremity, perhaps we could not protect the British people in Chin Certainly we could not protect many of them. I do feel that we have a duty to them that we ought to bear in mind and that we ought not, if we can avoid it, put them in greater peril than that in which they now stand,'
"We will endeavour to continue negotiations at Tokyo and to. preserve to the utmost extent the principles which have hitherto governed our conduct in the Far East," assorted the Prime Minister, "We will preserve to the utmost possible exent. the interests and fortunes of British subjects there. We will endeavour to show patience and ex. er else reasonable "moderation, copiizing that. Wehind all these out rageous things (incidents in China) there may be some genuine suspicion fon the part of the Japanese in 'China of our treatment of them, "We must not forget that there may even' be problems to consider in the course of the next few months and that We must conserve our forces to meet any emergency which might arise."
Dominions Involved Replying to criticisms strom the
inlanded a' denunciation of the 1911 Opposition, members at which de-Anglo-Japanese trade agreement, he pointed out that twelve months' notice would have to be given and, moreover, that any decision of this ature would entail repercussions on, the Dominions. The Dominions, he added, had similar accords with Japan, Some of his interpellators declared that the trade treaty should be denounced by virtue of the declarations issued by the Brussels Conferences and by the League of Nations, to both. of which Britain was a parly. The Premier retorted, however, that Britain had subscribed to nothing that compelled her to denounce the accord with Tokyo.
Two Facts Made Clear Answering other questions, stated: "We have made it perfectly clear to the Japanese Government that we alone are not prepared settle with the Japanese these two questions: of sliver and currency. They can only be settled after consultation with the other Governmenta Which are as concerned the general question of the future Aisposition of silver and currency, which are so closely allied."
Queries on the Far East continued to pour in from members, who directed a" veritable barrage at both the Prime Minister and Mr, A. "Butler, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs.
Mr. Arthur. Henderson, Labour member for Kingswinford, Stafford, asked, "In view of the fact That anti-British agitation continues, will not the British Government press the Japanese Government for a reply, falling which will It not consider re calling the British Ambassador (Sir Robert Leslie Craigie) for further consultations?
"think that cessation of the agitation is even more Important than the reply," Mr. Butler answered, "and the British Government has made its viewpoint perfectly clear to. the Japanese Government during recent Achates in the House in speeches by the Prime Minister and myself."
"But has not ample time been given to the Japanese Government to answer representations?" Mr. Hender. son persisted. "And is it not ominous hat it has failed to do so?"
Mr. Butler replied, "I think that it has had ample time. There can he no doubt about our feelings in the Tientsin Silver Deposits Mr. Noel Baker then raised the question of Chinese National currency land the deposits of Chinese silver in Tientsin foreign banks.
'To this, Mr. Chamberlain himself replied, "As I stated on July-31, these are matters which involve the' jntertests of other nationals beside our own. We could not therefore come to any agreement about them without reler-fence to the other Governments" reply to aviother query, this time by Mr. Harry Day, Labout member, for Central Southwark, the Premier added: "We are in touch with the other Governments. I may add' that the silver is not held" by "British banks, but is on premises owned by the Bank of Communications in the British Concession at Tientsin."
Mr, Noel Baker now asked whether the Japanese Government had as yet furnished proof of the guilt of ihe four Chinese held by the British authorities in Tientsin and accused of the murder of Cheng Hsi-ken, Super-Intendent of the Tientsin Customs.
The reply given by Mr. Butler was the affirmative.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.