£
331
I would first observe that the erroneous use of the word
"extradited", both in my minute of 21st. April, 1911, and in
Mr. Clementi's letters to Mr. Wei Han is only a quotation of
the phrase used by Mr. Wei Han in the conversation, and appears
to be responsible for a further misunderstanding. I was of
course well aware that we have no treaty under which we can
claim extradition of criminals from China. But at first sight
it seemed to me that if the Chinese Authorities could be
encouraged to voluntarily hand over any fugitive criminal in
much the same way as Mr. Langley describes the action taken by
the United States of America the trial of such fugitive crimin-
-als would be immensely facilitated. For it needs no detailed
description to set out the advantage of a local trial if it
could be secured in spite of the fact that we have no bi-
-lateral treaty of extradition with China. Mr. Wei Han was
(erroneously) understood to suggest this informal surrender,
stipulating only that a Chinese Official should be sent from
Canton to attend the trial and sit on the bench without taking
any part whatever in the trial. The stipulation seemed to me at
first sight a reasonable and a cheap one to secure the benefit
in view, but I replied that I would consult my legal advisers,
and of course I would have referred the matter to you before
concurring.