FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Evening Star, Issue 19785, 8 February 1928, Page 6

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SITUATION IN CHINA GOVERNMENT'S POLICY ENDORSED (British Official News.) Press Association— By Wireless —Copyright RUGBY, February 7. (Received February 8, at 1.30 p.m.). In the debate on the Address-in-lleply to the King’s Speech, Mr Ramsay MacDonald welcomed most sincerely the reference made in the Speech to China. He said it was most gratifying to know that troops were being withdrawn from China. Ho hoped that the negotiations now going on for the renewal of the Treaty of Arbitration with the United States might be broadened out so that the issues raised at Geneva might again be considered with a view to a complete settlement. Mr Lloyd George also welcomed the paragraph in the King’s Speech regarding China. He was very glad that the Foreign Secretary and the Government had come to the conclusion that things had improved to such an extent that it would be possible, to withdraw quite a large number of troops from China. He wished that it had been possible to say things had improved to such an extent that all the troops could be withdrawn, hut it was quite clear that such a happy state of things had not yet been reached. He reminded the House that he had throughout supported the Government’s' policy in China, and expressed satisfaction that not merely had the Government and the Foreign Secretary adhered to the important declaration which Sir Austen Chamberlain made a year ago regarding the intentions of the Government, but that, despite the difficulties which had since been encountered, they had come to the

conclusion that they saw no reason for departing from that exceedingly wise policy, die called attention to the great difficulty which existed in China, remarking that there was no Government there which could be depended upon to exist beyond a few weeks, which made the task of any foreign Government in regard to negotiations very difficult. Ho dwelt on the favorable effect abroad which would be created by 1 lie policy of the Government in adhering to the declarations made a year age.

Ho emphasised the importance of fostering the spirit of co-opera-tion, and partnership in foreign affairs between this country and the United States.

The Prime Minister stated that the paragraph in the King’s Speech relating to China was prepared on purpose that it might bo read throughout the world in that prominent position. He was glad that the endorsement given to it both by Mr MacDonald and Sir Lloyd George would make it a national policy, and that the whold world would recognise it as such. With regard to the American Arbitration Treaty, this was a difficult and technical subject. The Foreign Secretary proposed to deal to-morrow afternoon with any point regarding! the foreign policy which might bo raised in the debate. A LIBERAL AMENDMENT LONDON, February 7. (Received February 8, at 2 p.m.) The Liberals have decided that Mr Lloyd George shall move an amendment regretting 'that the Speech does not include an indication that the Government appreciated the hardships of social and industrial life, or contemplate amelioration by measures for the development of national ' resources, provision of work for the unemployed, or a solution of the slum problem.