asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to enter into trade negotiations with the newly established Government of the People's Republic of China.

No steps to enter into trade negotiations with the Communist authorities in China are at present under consideration, nor has any approach on this subject yet been received from them.

But my Question was whether the President of the Board of Trade would make an approach to the Government of China. In view of the need for us to trade with China—in view, for that matter, of the pressure from representatives of the Party opposite to carry out trade with China—perhaps he would give the matter some consideration.

The hon. Gentleman seems to be making some unwarrantable assumptions as to who are the Government of China.

In view of the experiences of British nationals in cities like Tientsin and Peipin, where the present authority has been established a good time, would my right hon. Friend take the necessary steps to promote or establish even ordinary trading methods, which I am sure a good many British nationals would desire to establish in these cities where the Communists have been in power for so long?