A BUSY TIME.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19481, 30 November 1928, Page 9

A BUSY TIME.

QUESTIONS IN HOUSE. FOREIGN SECRETARY'S RETURN. (BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.) RUGBY, November 28. Sir Austen Chamberlain, Foreign Secretary, returned to the House of Commons to-day after his four months' absence abroad. He appeared to have fully recovered from his illness, and when lie entered he was heartily cheered. . The leaders of all three Parties expressed pleasure at his return, to the accompaniment of a demonstration of approval from all sides of the House. lhe Foreign Secretary then answered a batch of questions. Sentence on Brewer. In regard to the severe sentence passed upon Mr Urewer, the Llritish ship's ofticer wlio was found guilty of theit, at Luanda, Sir Austen Chamberlain said that the Portuguese Government had considered the recommendations made by the British Ambassador at Lisbon, and had informed him that, being desirous of meeting the views of the British Government, they examined the possibility of releasing or pardoning Mr Brewer. They very mijch regretted, however, that they had been unable to take such action, as in oases of this kind Portuguese legal procedure required that the judicial documents should be submitted to the Minister for Justice. In the present case, these documents could not reach Lisbon before Mr Brewer's term of imprisonment was ended. The British Ambassador had been instructed to inform the Portuguese Government that the British Government shared the regret of the Portuguese Government at their inability to act on the lines contemplated, and that, while they were fully satisfied of the unwarranted severity of tile sell■■enee inflicted on Mr Brewer, they pronosed to await the report expected from the British Consul-General at Loanda, and to consider then what further action they should take. Poreign Relations. Sir Austen Chamberlain stated that the British Government had had no occasion to make anv communication to either the French or the German Government regarding the withdrawal of British troops in the Rhinelnnd as distinct. from evacuation by all three of the occupying Powers. Negotiations with the National Government of China for a treaty on tariff matters were still in progress, said the Foreign Secretary. In the circumstance he preferred at this stage to make no detailed statement. Regarding the present position, no negotiations were taking nlnce on the question of extra-territoriality..

GREAT BRITAIN AND JAPAN. (BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.) RUGBY, November 28. Questioned about the relations between Great Britain and Japan in regard to China, Sir Austen Chamberlain said that these were based on the obligations of full and frank communication specified in Article 7 of t'ie Wash-ington-China Treaty of 1922, and on the fact that Japan and Great Britain had much larger interests in China than the other Washington Powers, In these circumstances, the two Governments bad agreed informally that the close eontaot which they desired to maintain could best be. promoted and clov©lopecl by constant cpmrnunicatjon and consultation between their respective Ministers »t Peking. There were no conversations proceeding between the two Governments regarding China other than this informal exchange or information, which he hoped would be continued. This arrangement was not a new departure, but was the natural consequence of their Washington obligations. Similar conversations and consultations too]? Place between the British Minister and the Ministers of other Powers at Peking. Colonel Wedgwood (Labour) asked if there, was the same consultation and collaboration with America as with Chamberlain replied that from the very first day he took office 'it had been his earnest desiro to work harmoniously both with tjio United States and Japan in respect to their' common interests. He was quite certain that the answer he had given would not be new to Washington, tie added that Washington must be aware that one of the very first steps which he took on assuming office was to esSress th© hope that this country anu ie United States might pursue a common policy and, at any rate, consult freely in regard to all matters in .relation to China.,