MISSING BRITISHER

Hokitika Guardian, 29 July 1931, Page 6

MISSING BRITISHER

AT SHANGHAI. ■ » (By Telegraph —Per Press Association) RUGBY, July 27. In the House of Commons, Dr Hugh Dalton (Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs) replied to a question concerning the disappearance of the youth John Thorburn, at Shanghai recently. He said that the British Minister, Sir ■M. Lampson, had been instructed to make representations to the Cihnese Government in the following sense: “Independent enquiries have established beyond all reasonable doubt that Thorburn, who was under suspicion in some quarters of having shot at, and fatally wounded, two . Chinese gendarmes was arrested and handed over to the custody of the military authorities, who found means to silence persons possessing a knowledge of the facts. It was the duty of the Chinese Government, in the first place, to discover Thorburn’s whereabouts in -China, if he were still alive; and, in the. second place, to inflict suitable punishment on any , military authority who may have been responsible for maltreating him, or for causing his death. The British Government, therefore. most ’ earnestly and strongly urge the Chinese Government,, with all expedition, ’to find means of persuading the military authorities concerned m Tthe- present- ease -of the -, -urgent necessity" of enabling the Chinese Government to carry.. Qpt the. ordinary obligations -lof a civilised, state.”. Dr Dalton addikl' that Sir M: TAmpson was instructed to convey the foregoing ■as a special .message from . the British Government, and to' add . that, the British - Government .must insist on adequate and proper protection being afforded- to British . subjects.