CO537-3706 — Page 24

286515

28/35/1541 fel 184 fram

27-2-48 27.2-48

lalus

181 Yel 189 from F.O. to Nanking

Hereign Office F 2774/154/10.

182. Yel 190 from F.D. to Nanking

183. Hel 194 from F. O. In Nanking,

See

Also please Si Y. Klamyd's mis.1/8.

Mr. Seel

The telegram to Nanking at No.183, I think, adequately safeguards our position. I settled its terms with Mr. Scarlett over the telephone on Saturday morning.

A decision has yet to be taken as to whether we should put to the Foreign Office the suggestion that we should now tell the Chinese that the Garden of Remembrance proposal with the compromise joint committee and the other arrangements originally proposed by us represents, in our view, the most fitting solution to this problem, that we, for our part, feel that this is the utmost we can propose without prejudice to our position in and responsibilities for the New Territories, and that unless, therefore, the Chinese Government can see their way to accept our proposal, there seems to be no alternative but to refer the question of jurisdiction within the area which was situated within the Old Walled City of Kowloon to the International Court.

If it is agreed that we should put this suggestion to the Foreign Office, I think there would be some advantage in putting it to them as quickly as possible.

3.3.48.