CO537-3706 — Page 77

views on our next communication to the

Chinese Government. I would like, if

For

I may, to suggest that, in order to save

time later on, we might be proceeding

with the consideration of the terms of

this communication while the matter is

under reference to the Law Officers.

this purpose we might perhaps assume

that, since the Chinese Government have

made it so plain that nothing less than

jurisdiction will satisfy them, we shall

have to make some mention of the

International Court in the communication.

7. When I told our legal people here

of the proposal to refer the question to

the Law Officers, they said they would

very much like to see the reference in

draft form. You will recall that I

raised this point with you when we spoke

on the telephone and I understand that you our legal people

will very kindly arrange for the draft

Consueter.

to be sent over to us for Comments