31
Legislative Council on the draft.
The draft had been prepared here
at the request of Sir M. Lampson. The
chief consideration in preparing and
presenting it was the desirability of
being able to take prompt and practical
steps to meet the long-standing wish
of the Chinese for the negotiation of new
treaties on a basis of equality and
reciprocity, while preventing, if possible,
any premature discussions on the thorny
question of extra-territoriality, and the
draft prepared aimed at maintaining without
addition or diminution the present
privileges enjoyed under existing treaties.
The draft as sent out to His Majesty's
Minister was settled by the Board of
Trade and Foreign Office in consultation
with us and other Departments concerned
but without prior consultation with
commercial interests either in this
country or in Shanghai. As it was
realised
The following is the
substance of
letter. bue plains,
the
FO
We realise of coupe that it is difficult-
for you.
advice of your offices,
Even with the
معانه ی ما
a decided
opinion on important
questions of commercial policy,
Kam that it
крава
L was matinal be you commquelt.