[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government..
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AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[October 22.]
SECTION 1.
[37480]
No. 1.
Sir Edward Grey to Sir A. Nicolson.
(No. 285.) Sir,
Foreign Office, October 22, 1909. I HAVE received your Excellency's despatch No. 545 of the 6th instant forwarding a copy of an aide-mémoire prepared by the Russian Government on the situation at Harbin. The memorandum, however, merely recapitulates facts already known to His Majesty's Government, and as to which there appears to have been no misunderstanding on their part.
I have accordingly to request you, in thanking M. Isvolsky for the communication of this document, to hand his Excellency the enclosed memorandum, in which His Majesty's Government draw attention to the fact that rules for the government of international municipalities in China must receive the approval of the treaty Powers before they can be made applicable to foreign subjects, and suggest that the regula- tions in question should be drawn up in consultation with the diplomatic or consular authorities of the Powers concerned.
I am, &c.
Inclosure in No. 1.
E. GREY.
Memorandum for communication to M. Isvolsky.
HIS Majesty's Government have read with much interest the aide-mémoire on the situation at Harbin which the Imperial Russian Government have been good enough to communicate to them, and they desire to express their earnest wish that the negotiations pending between the Imperial Government and China for carrying out the provisions of the agreement of the 10th May last may be brought to a speedy and satisfactory conclusion.
His Majesty's Government desire at the same time to point out, with reference to the detailed regulations for municipalities, &c., mentioned in article 17 of the agree ment, that rules for the government of international municipalities in China must receive the approval of the treaty Powers before they can be made applicable to foreign subjects. They would therefore suggest that these regulations should be drawn up in consultation with the diplomatic or consular authorities of the Powers concerned.
His Majesty's Government have already drawn the attention of the Chinese Government to this consideration, which they feel sure will commend itself to the Imperial Russian Government,
Foreign Office, October 22, 1909.
[2462 y-1]
E. G.
se