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Mr. Hsü's relations were with Dr. Wang Chung-hui, generally regarded as pre-eminent amongst Chinese jurists and the father of much of modern Chinese law. Mr. Hsü reminded me that he had worked in Peking in former days as Dr Wang's Vice- Minister, but said that they now no longer saw altogether eye to eye, as Dr. Wang's ideas we rather too conservative.
5. The impression, I received from the conversation was that we are likely to meet with very great difficulties over all points where foreign interests and foreign diplomacy come in contact with the Chinese judiciary, as, for instance, in the case of the Shanghai Mixed Court and any arrangements that may be contemplated for the gradual abolition of extra-territoriality, at any rate as long as Mr. Hsü remains Minister of Justice; that if he remains in office or the ideas he represents continue, much of the work of the Extra-territoriality Commission will have been in vain; and that if, as I gather to be the case, the laws and judicial system of Nationalist China are still very much in process of formation, it will be very difficult to make any progress at present, so far as the Nationalist Government are concerned, with that part of our treaty alteration offer relating to the enforcement of Chinese laws in British
I have, &c.
courts.
ERIC TEICHMAN.