PARLIAMENT RESUMES

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 569, 23 January 1929, Page 9

PARLIAMENT RESUMES

RHINELAND QUESTION SIR AUSTEN EXPLAINS British Official Wireless. Reed. 11.42 a.m. RUGBY, Tuesday. Parliament reassembled this afternoon after the Christmas recess. Answering a question by Mr. Josiah Wedgwood (Labour), regarding the evacuation of the Rhineland, Sir Austen Chamberlain, the Foreign Secretary, said there had been no change in the situation since he spoke during the debate on the adjournment in December. Mr. Wedgwood referred in another question to the committee of control. Sir Austen Chamberlain said he presumed that Mr. Wedgwood intended to refer to the Commission of Verification and Reconciliation mentioned in the Geneva resolution on September 16 last. The word control was not used in the resolution, and would convey an entirely wrong impression of the character and purpose of the body created. The Geneva resolution stated that the Powers were agreed regarding the acceptance of the principle and constitution of the Commission of Verification and Reconciliation, and the objects and duration of the commission would form the subject of negotiations between the Governments concerned. The Governments undertook to study this question, and were doing it now. They were proceeding upon a resolution of which the German Chancellor, Dr. Mueller, was party. Sir Laming Worthington-Evans, War Secretary, replying to a question, was unable to say when the British forces would be withdrawn from Shanghai. This must depend on the local situation.