[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government, and should be returned to the Foreign Office if not required for official use.]
7
149
CHINA
Decode.
Sir M.Lampson,
(Peking),
February 23rd 1927.
D.
10.50 p.m.
February 23rd 1927.
Ro
9.0 a.m.
February 24th 1927.
No.323.
(R).
Important.
My telegram No.204.
I called by appointment at Wai-chiao-pu on
February 21st to receive Peking government's answer
to our treaty alteration programme.
Doctor Koo whose attitude was far from showing
any gratitude to us commenced by saying that our offer
whilst going part way to meet China's wishes dealt
with specific questions only. He would on the
other hand prefer to see problem dealt with on broad
question of principles involved. China's aims were briefly - (1) tariff autonomy (2) abolition of extra- territoriality (3) abolition of inland navigation
including coastal trade, and he would like discussion
to be along lines of principles underlying each. As
a practical man he would admit that there would have
to be stages.
I pointed out that tariff autonomy had already
been covered in principle in British policy memo-
randum of December 18th provided that there was a
national tariff. I could not however commence dis-
cussion on basis of his three principles as my
authority was confined to programme communicated to
him