Ch. XVII
THE HANKOW AGREEMENT.
February 19, 1927.
Sir, I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of to-day's date in which you assure me that the British Authorities concerned will do all that lies in their power to implement and ensure the successful operation of the Agreement signed to-day relative to the British Concession-area at Hankow, and that as far as the British Authorities are concerned Chinese citizens will enjoy and be entitled to the same rights as British subjects in the said area.
I have the honour to assure you in return that the Chinese Authorities for their part will likewise do their utmost to implement and ensure the successful operation of the Agreement in question and that so far as they are concerned there will be no dis- crimination against British interests in the administration of the new district.
I avail myself, etc.
SIR MILES LAMPSON, K.C.M.G., H. B. M. Minister.
(Signed) CHEN YU-JEN, Minister for Foreign Affairs.
STATEMENT.
The Nationalist Government take note of the statement made by Sir Austen Chamberlain, the British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in the House of Commons on February 10.
The modification in the original plan for the concentration of British forces at Shanghai announced by him is regarded by the Nationalist Government as а con- cession which now makes it possible to proceed to the conclusion and signing of an agreement relative to the British Concession-area at Hankow.
As, however, the landing at Shanghai of British troops-even in the reduced numbers and for the strictly limited purpose stated by the British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs-is without legal justification, the Nationalist Government have to protest against the landing and presence of such British troops in the International Settlement at Shanghai.
February 19, 1927.·
DECLARATION.
The Nationalist Government have to declare that the arrangement made respecting the status of the area hitherto known as the British Concession at Hankow has been concluded by them with special reference to the facts of the new status quo in the said area and is not intended by them to serve as precedent for the settlement of the future status of any British or other Concessions elsewhere in China.
February 19, 1927.
DECLARATION.
Reports reaching the Nationalist Government from many quarters appear to make a re-statement of Nationalist policy regarding concessions and international settle- ments necessary and timely in order to avoid misapprehension and prevent needless apprehension and fear.
In the manifesto of January 22, the Nationalist Government declared their intention and their immediate readiness to have all questions outstanding between Na- tionalist China and the Foreign Powers settled by negotiation and agreement. This implicitly applied and it was intended so to apply to changes in the status of all concessions and all international settlements in China
This necessarily means that the policy of the Nationalist Government is not to use force or to countenance the use of force to effect changes in the status of any or all concessions and international settlements.
The Nationalist Government have to lay it down that changes in the status of concessions and international settlements wherever situate in China are of such vital and national importance that no local or other Chinese authorities save and except the Nationalist Government can negotiate with the Foreign Powers concerned in respect thereof.
February 19, 1927.
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