[This Document is the Property of Her Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINA TRADE.
**Confidential.**
To your Excellency,
PRINTED FOR USE IN THE EASTERN.
72 COLONIAL OFFICE No. 1.
The Marquess of Salisbury to Mr. Choute.
[November 30.]
SECTION 1.
Foreign Office, November 30, 1899.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 15th instant relative to the Declaration which the United States' Government desire should be made by foreign Powers having leases of territory or "spheres of interest" in China.
I note with satisfaction that your Excellency recognizes the validity of the reasons which would preclude Her Majesty's Government from including in any such Declaration on their part the Hong Kong Extension, which has practically been incorporated with, and will be governed as a part of, the Colony of Hong Kong.
You observe that the holdings of other Great Powers in China consist largely of territory leased for a term of years, and are not subject to the same objection which applies to the Hong Kong Extension, but fall rather in the same category as Wei-hai Wei, and that the omission from the British Declaration of all reference to leased territory would naturally induce other Powers to insist upon the same limitation without the same reason which applies to the Hong Kong Extension.
Your Excellency accordingly proposes that the Declaration to be made by Her Majesty's Government should be so framed as to apply expressly to the leased territory of Wei-hai Wei, and to all territory in China which may hereafter be acquired by Great Britain by lease or otherwise, and to all spheres of interest now held, or which may hereafter be held, by her in China.
I have the honour to state that your Excellency's suggestion is acceptable to Her Majesty's Government.
I have, &c.
(Signed) SALISBURY.
[2318 gg-1]
711
3674
;
This Document is the Property of Her Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINA TRADE.
ONFIDENTIAL.
Confidential.)
our Excellency,
PRINTED
FOR USE
EASTERN.
72
COLONIAL OFFICE
No. 1.
The Marquess of Salisbury to Mr. Choute.
[November 30.]
SECTION 1.
Foreign Office, November 30, 1899.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 15th instant lative to the Declaration which the United States' Government desire should be made y foreign Powers having leases of territory or "spheres of interest " in China.
I note with satisfaction that your Excellency recognizes the validity of the reasons hich would preclude Her Majesty's Government from including in any such Declara- fon on their part the Hong Kong Extension, which has practically been incorporated ith, and will be governed as a part of, the Colony of Hong Kong.
You observe that the holdings of other Great Powers in China consist largely of erritory leased for a term of years, and are not subject to the same objection hich applics to the Hong Kong Extension, but fall rather in the same category as Wei-hai Wei, and that the omission from the British. Declaration of all reference to ased territory would naturally induce other Powers to insist upon the same limitation ithout the same reason which applies to the Hong Kong Extension.
Your Excellency accordingly proposes that the Declaration to be made by Her Majesty's Government should be so framed as to apply expressly to the leased territory Wei-hai Wei, and to all territory in China which may hereafter be acquired by Great Britain by lease or otherwise, and to all spheres of interest now held, or which may bereafter be held, by her in China.
I have the honour to state that your Excellency's suggestion is acceptable to Her Majesty's Government.
I have, &c.
711
[2318 gg-1]
(Signed)
SALISBURY.
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