138
2.
5. Personal status. Text contained in your telegram No. 1680 will not do as it stands, because in British territory law of the domicile is applied. Position is that under recognised principle of private international law, the personal law is applied to decide questions of personal status but there are two doctrines by which personal law is (a) law of nationality, or (b) law of domicile. Anglo-Saxon countries adopt (b) continental countries (a). We want China to adopt (à). Text contained in my telegram No. 1603 is acceptable if you can obtain it. But in the last resort you are authorised to leave this question over for comprehensive treaty.
6. Real property. We very much hope that you will secure something on the lines of the formula which you have submitted to the Chinese Government in view of great importance which British firms trading in China attach to this matter.
7. Your paragraph 14. We agree to drop request, for assurances regarding special courts and prisons.
8. Kowloon. See separate telegram.
9. United States Government have now virtually concluded their negotiations and are proposing to the Chinese Government signature on 1st January. They point to the fact that besides being New Year's Day this is the first anniversary of the declaration by the United Nations. It may be that this date will be inconvenient to the Chinese, since it is a national holiday, but we are informing United States Government that we have no objection of principle and intend that every effort shall be made to conclude our negotiations by then.
(OTP).