Munson
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D.O
OUTWARD TELEGRAM
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WAR CABINET DISTRIBUTION.
TO: CHINA.
(98)
No. 1548.
FROM FOREIGN OFFICE TO CHUNGKING.
4th December, 1942.
Do 6.20 a.m. 5th December, 1942.
q q q
Your telegram No. 154 [of 17th November: Kowloon Leased Territory].
I am not prepared to consider the New Territories in connexion with present treaty since this not only has nothing to do with extraterritoriality but being, as stated in the Convention, an enlargement of British territory is in an entirely different category from the concessions and settlements in China in which we are relinquishing our special rights.
2. You should therefore inform the Chinese Government that His Majesty's Government regard the New Territories as outside the scope of the present treaty.
3. I should prefer to stand on this. But if you think it inevitable that we shall have to go further, we might be prepared to inform Chinese Government, in writing if necessary, that on the victory of the United Nations we look for a reconstruction in the Far East which will secure peace and order for all both on land and on sea. In this we should expect all the United Nations to co-operate for the common advantage in the several respects in which they have special contributions to offer and in such circumstances we should be ready to consider with the Chinese Government what should be the future status of the New Territories during the currency of the lease.
4. Please let me know if you think this will be necessary and whether it would be better to make such a communication
In any spontaneously rather than to be pushed into making it. event do not make it without further reference to me.
(0.T.P)
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