asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will give an undertaking not to recognise the Communist Government in China until he has a reasonable assurance that British diplomatic and consular officials there will be treated with respect.

No, Sir; in international practice the proper treatment of diplomatic and consular officials should be automatic. To ask for assurances on this point might imply that this was not the case.

Would the hon. Gentleman agree that the treatment accorded by the Chinese authorities to American consular and diplomatic representatives in China is far from re-assuring, and will he not wait until there is some indication that the Chinese are prepared to behave normally in this way before precipitating recognition?

I welcome the news that Mr. Ward and his staff have been released. If their detention had been continued it would have been a very grave matter. As far as our own people are concerned, their official status is not, of course, recognised, but as individuals they have been treated properly.

Could the Communists of China be directed to turn to South Africa for guidance?

Is it not the case that the Americans never adopted a normal attitude towards the Chinese but that the Chinese are determined that the Americans shall?

Will my hon. Friend resist any temptation to further delay in this matter, in which there has been too much delay already?