DEBATE IN THE COMMONS

North Otago Times, Volume CVII, Issue 17748, 11 March 1927, Page 5

DEBATE IN THE COMMONS

~ Press 'AssociS'Kon-

[(Australian and N.Z. Press Assoo.aticn.)

LABOUR POINT OF; YIEW. - i

'(Ca"ble-

--Oopyrig'lit.)

LONDON, March 8. In the House of Commons, Captain King, introducing the supple* mentary vote of £950,000 for .the Shanghai defence force, said that within four days of the calling up notices, the first transport was ea route. Mr Clynes complained of misrepresentation of Labour's attitude regarding China. The Opposition's view was that the Government's choice was between forseeing statesmanship and the dangeroua and futile use of soldiers. The Gov« ernment had reached a stage wherf it wanted to show fight and negotlate at the same time. Labour was al poncerned as -anyone in the safetj of British lives and property il China, but believed that special e2i peditions in the early stages of n8* gotiations were provoeative and u®« necessary and obstructed the pro3« pects of a settlement. He denied that Labour ever sought to enter ne* gotiations with the Chinese. Germany's and Russia's abandonment of their territorial rights had not aifeeted their trade. If, as some sug* gested, our trade was on the de« cline in China due to Russian agitation, so much the worse, if our reputation could not withstand. Russian propaganda. Labour would op« pose the vote as unnecessary, pr@« vocative and harmful. Mr Wedgwood agreed that th® British Government had been strictly impartial in China, but urged ilie recognition of the * Cantonese, because they were less militaristic, more democratic and inspired hy higher ideals than the, other Chinese parties. , > Mr Dalton said it should be a recognised policy that people investing capital outside the Empire did so at their bwn risk. Sir L. Worthington Evans, reply* ing. said that nothing could b® worse than to send an inadequate force to protect our people at Shanghai, The Government were advised that the steps taken were adequate, but not excessive. The vote was carried by 303 tS 124.