The system of export permits inaugurated by the Japanese authori-les was the subject of a question. Mr. Robert Morgan, National Conservative member for the Stourbridge division of Worcestershire, asked, what action the Prime Minister, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, had taken with reference to the refusal of the Japanese authorities to allow goods to be exported from Tsingtao when the exports had been financed through foreign banks by means of Chinese National currency.
Mr. Butler replied that there had been cases during recent months in which the Japanese authorities in Tsingtao had recused to permit exports, either on the ground mentioned cly Mr. Morgan or without assigning any reason, 'The British Consul-General in 'Tsingtao, he added, had made frequent representations on the matter to his Japanese colleague, who pleaded military necessity asin justi= fication for the action taken'
The matter, Mr. Butler continued, had also been taken up by Sit Robert Craigie, British Ambassador t Japan, in Tokyo. Mr, Morgan the asked whether such refusal had been extended to any other ports in China.
The system of export permits, Mr. Butler replied, had recently been extended to Weihaiwei and Chefoo, where the situation was being closely watched, Commons Adopts Import Duties Order
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.