of demands from the Powers who were each seeking a sphere of influence on the Asiatic mainland, the Chinese Government secured a minimum reservation in each of the leases where a local goverment was functioning, in the form of a special area over which China should continue to exercise jurisdiction. In other words, China yielded to the force of circunstances by agreeing only to meet the military requirements of the Powers concerned without renouncing her jurisdiction in spite of respective reserved arena. That the failure of Great Britain to observe even this reservation in respect of Kowloon, which stands now as the last vestige of an out-moded system, would have the most unfortunate repercussions in China may well be imagined.
In order to prevent further aggravation of the situation the Chinese Goverment earnestly urges the British Government to accede to the requests put forward for a proper settlement by the Chinese Government through this Embassy and through the British Embassy in Nanking.
I have the honour to be, with the highest consideration,
Your Excellency's obedient Servant,
T
(Sgd.) F.I. Cheng.
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