In reply to both questions jointly, Mr. R. A. Butler said that Lord Halifax, the Foreign Secretary, had not yet received the full text of the statement expressing the Japanese desire for changes in the International Settlement, including changes in the Shanghai Municipal Council He understood that similar communications had been made to the United States Ambassador in Tokyo, and to the Shanghai Municipal Council.
In the meantime, he explained that the constitution of the Council was fixed by the Land Regulations. "No changes in the land regulations are Yegally valid, he declared, "without the assent of the Chinese Government" Nor would His Majesty's Government concur with such changes without full consideration with all other parties concerned.
"Mr. Wardlaw-Milne then asked that if the Japanese should press for changes in the Council. which in effect bring the Council largely under Japanese domination, whether Britain would assist the Council to resist such (Mr. Butler replies: "Yes.
Majesty's Government will concur with no changes without full cocsultation of the other parties concerned."
Mr. Alan Graham also wanted to know whether tx British Ambassador to China, Sir Archibald Clark Kerr, had reported on his recent visit to Tsingtao regarding the difficulties British residents were encountering? in conducting business in the face of Japanese obstruction.
Mr. Butler said that no special re-nor recommendations had been received, but the Government was kept fully informed of the situation and there is a Resident Consul. General at the port.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.