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of local discussion in the first instance see my
telegram No.204 and said he was prepared to accept
this so long as aim of Chinese goverment was
More-
quite clear namely relinquishment of concessions though
they were prepared to admit necessity of a bridge to
ultimate destination. I replied I thought discussion
must start from fact that there were certain rights in
existence which were to be gradually modified.
over there were financial and landed interests of
great importance which must be safeguarded.
Koo
replied that concessions were looked on now-a-days
as political affairs and object was to incorporate
them in Chincse territory. Asked if this implied
ultimate deprivation of all municipal rights he rem
plied that it was hoped to introduce municipal govern-
ment into Chinese cities and concessions would have to
be merged in larger areas. I pointed out that in
our concessions this already existed, in Chinese
cities it did not; they must not bring former down
to level of later but the other way round.
In ensuing general discussion I asked for author-
itative texts regarding laws, taxation, regulations etc. Koo said they could be supplied.
He went on
to