-3-
83
and Chinese when in China. We should then be on
sound ground in resisting any improper interfer-
ence by the Chinese Consuls with Chinese residents
in Malaya who are British Subjects; but we should
also ourselves have to accept the corresponding
position in China (into which we have in fact
drifted) of the Chinese nationality of such
individuals so far as concerns British consular
protection there.
•
I am inclined therefore to consider
that no useful purpose will be served by pressing
the Chinese Government at the present time for
the recognition on their part of the principle
that "a State may not afford diplomatic protection
to one of its nationals against a State whose
nationality such person also possesses", and that
we should rather adopt this as our general attitude
as and when necessary vis-à-vis the activities of
the Chinese Consuls in Malaya. Should the oppor-
tunity arise of coming to any specific settlement
with the Chinese Government concerning the status
of "Anglo-Chinese" in China, the matter can be re-
But I doubt whether any such settle-
considered.
ment will be reached with the Chinese Government
at this late date, unless on the simple basis of
our mitual recognition of the principle of dual
nationality as applicable to these individuals.
In the meantime, however, to press the point
specifically on the Chinese Government at the
present moment would obviously (as stated in the
Foreign