15
In that event we should not be too rigid but should make
the best bargain we could.
The Prime Minister pointed out that the present
position was that we were being approached not by the
Chinese but by the United States of America. The choice
appeared to be whether we should wait or take the initia-
tive in the matter.
The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs agreed
with most of the remarks of his colleagues. He had
gathered from the Foreign Office that morning that the
Chinese were not pressing the matter at the moment.
He did not wish to take any initiative.
If the United
States of America asked for our view he would reply that
we would prefer to wait until the Chinese raised the
question. He did not propose to go into details with
the United States of America, but if they raised the
matter he would reply on the lines indicated in his
Memorandum. For example, if the question of Shanghai
were raised he would state that we should prefer to have
Shanghai excluded from any extra-territoriality negotia-
tions. He was advised by His Majesty's Ambassadors in
Tokyo and Peking that it would be better not to raise
the question with the Japanese Government unless the
Chinese Government brought it up.
The Prime Minister said that the line proposed by
the Foreign Secretary was in accord with the views
expressed at the Meeting.