London, Feb. 15. {CHINA shared honours with Spain in focussing attention in the House of Commons today.
Among the subjects discussed were a proposal to denounce the Anglo-: japanese Trade Treaty of 1911 the suggestion to send a British warship to Hainan or even to land British forces there; the question whether the Government would offer financial assistance to the National Relief Commission of the Chinese Government the proposal to inaugurate 'a gunboat service between Shanghai and Hankow; alleged Japanese discrimination in favour of Germans; and the position of British shipping, particularly at Tsingtao.
In view of the increasing acts of aggression by the Japanese naval and military authorities against British trade in the Far East, will the Government forthwith denounce the Anglo-Japanese Trade Treaty of 1911 2" asked Captain Alan Graham, Conservative mem~ ber for the Chirral division of Cheshire.
Mr. R.A. Butler, Under-Secretary of Siate for Foreign Affairs, replied that the Government was constantly reviewing measures best calculated 10 protect British interests in the Far: East.
'Coplain Graham asked if it were not patent that all. protests were quite ineffective, and that the only' Weapon {0 produce a. satisfactory, Fesult was some sort of retaliatory ction.
Mr. Butler said he would not regard this as the only method of achieving satisfactory results, aid reports received did not indicate that any confiscation of lighter trans—port at any of the Japanese-occupied ports of China had occurred. British shipping, however, "had met with fdclays and other dimeulties in con~ nection with lighterage at Tsingtao fand Chefoo, and representations had {been made to. the Japanese authorities both locally and at Tokyo, Replying toa question on labour organization at Hongkong, Mr, Mal~ fcolm MacDonald, Secretary of State for the Colonies, said that trade unions were freely permitted to Assurances over Hainan "The occupation of Hainan was also the subject of questions, and, in Feplying to them, Mr. Buller deciarfed that' the Japanese authorities had hot previously notified their inten tion. "They have stated," he said, Sthat they have no territorial designs, Jand that the occupation will not last Tonger than is militarily necessary."
Sit. John Wardlaw-Mine, Con servative. member for the Kidder minster division of Worcester, asked whether, in view of the circum ances, the Government had thought.
sending a British warship to Hainan or even landing British forces there, considering that, in. view of their' statement, the Japanese could reasonably object to such action.
Mr. Buller said he would require notice of the questi:
Sir Archibald Sinclair, the Liberal leader, asked whether the Government accepted the Japanese reply, and whether, it proposed to acquiesce in the occupation of Hainan for the duration of the Wai "Mr. Buller replied that he had answered the question on the paper.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.