39
entitled to British protection. The dispute dragged on, and on the 15th June, 1926, under instructions from the Foreign Office, protection was withdrawn from Soskin and Co. His Majesty's consul, however, pointed out that the question was one of jurisdiction rather than protection; Soskin and Co. had obtained registration in a regular manner, exactly as all other British property was registered; if the Chinese court could invalidate Soskin and Co.'s title, then no British title to land in Harbin was safe. On the 4th July, 1927, the Chinese Court issued a notice that part of the property in question would be sold by auction by order of the court. His Majesty's consul, therefore, inserted in the local press a notification to intending purchasers that no valid title could be acquired to the property save by transfer effected through His Majesty's consulate (similar action had already been taken on two previous occasions). On the following day the court issued to the press a notification challenging the right of His Majesty's consul to intervene in the matter, and proclaiming its intention to protect the interests of persons who might purchase the property. The auction was held on the 23rd July as announced, but nobody appeared to bid. The Chinese Court then reduced the reserve price by 20 per cent., advertised the auction again for the 30th August, 1927, and took steps, of the nature of intimidation, to prevent the publication by His Majesty's consul of any further notification as to the title. In the mean- [F 1263/1263/10}, time, however, the Bank of Chosen expressed a desire to take legal 1926. proceedings against Soskin and Co. in respect of an unsecured debt of [F 2370/1263/10], 517,706 yen, but under pressure from His Majesty's consul consented to
[F 7744/7744/10], take a mortgage of the property in dispute. The legal title was transferred to the Bank of Chosen on the 10th August, 1927, and the registration in His Majesty's consulate cancelled.
1926.
1927.
[F 7985/7744/10],
1927.
[16827]
2
59