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60
87
[This telegram is of particular secrecy and should be
retained by the authorised recipient and not passed on].
[Cypher]
Sir H. Seymour No. 1552
WAR CABINET DISTRIBUTION.
FROM CHINA.
FROM CHUNGKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE.
13th November, 1942
D. 6.10 p.m. 13th November, 1942 R. 10.35 p.m. 13th November, 1942
Teri:
79
a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a
My immediately preceding telegram.
After Sir E. Teichnan and I had read the Chinese counter-draft and noted the main changes, I pointed out that it went very far beyond the original offer of His Majesty's Government to relinquish extra-territoriality and settle corrected questions. Request for the termination of luase of new territories raised questions of great importance in relation to Hong Kong and His Majesty's Government had certainly not expected this matter to be raised now. Minister for Foreign Affairs said that the Chinese Government had not raised the question of Hong Kong but that they felt that 1898 Convention ought certainly to be dualt with in the present treaty.
The
2. As regards inland and coastal navigation, I said that this was question which should properly be dealt with in the proposed Treaty of Commerce and Navigation. Minister for Foreign Affairs agreed, but said that, in the view of the Chinese Government, the present treaty should make it clear that all rights, including any navigation_rights enjoyed under unequal treaties were abolished. In the discussion, we pointed out that His Majesty's Government was likely to feel strongly at being asked to relinquish so important a trade without any discussion, and that in point of fact, foreign shipping would be essential after the war.
WG sug- gusted making it clear that we had no authority from you to do so, that the Chinese point could perhaps be met in other ways, for instance, by their reserving the right to reserve coast-wise shipping to the Chinese flag, but undertaking that the existing practice should continue pending further arrangements. It has, of course, always been obvious that the Chinese would reserve inland water navigation at the earliest opportunity, but it might be possible to get something on lines of the above suggestion in respect of coast-wise nav- igation.
•
3. As regards deletion of final words of your Article 5, the Minister for Foreign Affairs explained that Chinese Govern- ment felt that any such questions arising from the Japanese occupation would be better dealt with in the eventual" peace settlement.
4. You will notice that the Chinese amendment to your Article 6 leaves us without any guarantee for national treatment in carrying on trade. Dr. Soong at first said that
this..