London, Feb. 21.
The question of moving the British Embassy in China nearer to the seat of the Chinese Government was raised in the House of Commons last evening.
Mr. Rupert de la Bere, Conservative member for the Evesham di sion of Worcestershire, asked whether since the Russian and United States Embassies in China enjoyed a more favourable geographic proximity to the headquarters of the Chinese Government, and so had easy access for commercial discussions and negotiations, the Prime Minister would consider moving the British Embassy to an equally favourable geographical position.
The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr. R. A. Butler, replied while the headquarters of the British Ambassador were in Shanghai, he frequently visited Chungking, and was in fact now there.
"When he was not ili Chungking, contact was maintained with the National Government through the offices of the Embassy, which were in charge of a senior member of the Embassy staff.
These arrangements, Mr. Butler said, had been found most convenient in practice for the maintenance of touch with British interests in different parts of China. Lord Halifax (Foreign Secretary), he added, did not consider a modification at present called for.—Reuter
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.