CO.
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.] 66
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[March 4.]
SECTION 1.
No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received Murch 4.)
[6958]
(No. 37.)
(Telegraphic.) P.
SHANGÍTAE Mixed Court: Revision of Rules.
Peking, March 3, 1907.
Please see your telegram No. 23 of the 1st instant. Shanghae despatch No. 190 of the 29th December, 1906, and Judge's despatch of the 14th January have presumably reached you.
The China Association in Shanghae have addressed a letter to the London Association, dated the 8th February, a copy of which should also soon be in your hands, and they might (iu view of my telegram No. 4 of the 9th January) feel aggrieved should a final decision be taken until they have had time to express their views.
I fear that it would be impossible to introduce into the amendments themselves, at this stage of the negotiations, all, or probably any, of the various suggestions, and I am of opinion that our sole chance of securing their acceptance is to insert them in an exchange of notes with the Chinese Government. This would be in accordance with the suggestion in your telegram No. 196 of the 21st November, 1906.
I think that it would be sufficient if we stipulated for the continuance of control of male prisoners as well as for the maintenance of the existing practice of the Mixed Court as mutually recognized.
Serving of warrants (a very important point), and most of the other suggested alterations would be covered by the latter.
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