CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911 — Page 12

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Emperor of China, provided they had resided in the Colony

for three continuous years previous to the issue of a

Certificate of British Nationality.

That was a reversal of the previous practice as

laid down by the Law Officers in 1867 and I quite agree

with Sir H. May that its continuance in present circum-

stances in China is open to grave objections.

I am still more strongly of opinion that the

decision conveyed in the Foreign Office despatch No.12,

Treaty, of the 2nd September, 1904, extending similar

protection in China to Anglo-Chinese who have been

registered as British subjects at a British Consulate

in Siam and who have resided there continuously for

three years, is one which cannot be enforced in China

without raising serious difficulties of which we have

unfortunately had some practical experience.

As regards entering into negotiations with China

on the whole question, I see no special objection, but

as Mr. Hurst points out, we must be prepared to accept

an Agreement which will necessitate a reduction in the

extent to which we claim to protect Chinese at present.

The Dutch Government which has long had the

precise difficulties we have experienced has already

entered into negotiations with the Chinese Government

on the subject and happens to be in a peculiarly

favourable situation for arriving at a successful

solution. The Chinese are extremely anxious to obtain

the right of establishing Consulates in the Dutch

Possessions and the Dutch Government has promised to

entertain the request on the condition that an under-

standing is reached with regard to the treatment in

China of Dutch subjects of Chinese descent.

There are

thousands of persons of Chinese descent in Java and

Sumatra whose ancestors have been settled there for

Yet

generations and who have so far lost their original

nationality that they cannot even speak Chinese.

these persons if they happen to come to China are

claimed in theory at least by China as Chinese subjects.

The Dutch position is, therefore, a stronger one

even then ours and as they have a valuable quid pro

quo to offer, it might perhaps be advisable to let them

have an opportunity of solving the problem put by

The

Sir