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.
29
From CHINA
Sir M. Lempson. (Peking).
Decypher.
May 2nd, 1929.
D.
1.00 p.m.
R. 9.00 a.m.
May 2nd, 1929.
May 2nd, 1929.
No. 389.
Importart
Mr. Newton's telegrams Nos. 82 and 84.
I do not consider that we should agree to Wang's proposals which strike me as being in the nature of a "try on". Unless he accepts our desired form of settlement, we are perfectly justified in reverting to the earlier position and handling the question in accordance with published recommendations of advisory committee 1.e. waiting until amending act as originally contemplated is passed and then proceeding strictly
according to earlier scheme.
If this line of action is approved, Minister for Foreign Affairs would be informed accordingly and given choice of that or of our present proposal. My belief
But if he does is that he would accept the latter.
not, no harm is done.
Any Chinese verbal undertaking recorded in the minutes as suggested by Wang in a matter of this importance seems to me unacceptable. Wang's successor or even his present colleagues might easily and probably would disclaim all obligation thereunder.
As to his suggested limitation (third paragraph of Mr. Newton's telegram No. 82) regarding suitability of
British