[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
[B]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
REC
27093
REGE 1 SEP 10
[August 18.]
SECTION 1.
593
[28161]
No. 1.
Your Excellency,
Sir Edward Grey to Count Benckendorff.
Foreign Office, August 18, 1910. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of the memorandum communicated by your Excellency on the 2nd instant in regard to the circular sent by the Chinese Government on the 5th April, 1909, to the representatives of the Powers at Peking, informing them that henceforth China would assume responsibility for the protection of and jurisdiction over the subjects of non-treaty Powers residing or travelling in China who would be regarded as on the same footing as Chinese subjects.
I concur in the view expressed in your Excellency's memorandum, that this is not a matter in which China should alter existing practice without consultation with the foreign representatives at Peking, and I am instructing His Majesty's chargé d'affaires at Peking, to whom I am sending a copy of your note, to join in discussing the matter with the other members of the diplomatic body, should any of them bring it forward. His Majesty's Government recognise the desirability of solidarity amongst the Powers on a question of this kind.
(2862 8-1]
I am, &c.
E. GREY.