CO129-468 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1921 [6-8] — Page 561

555

51625/1921.

sir,

SECRET

554

Downing Street,

1 November, 1921.

I am directed by Mr Secretary Churchill to refer

to the letter from this Department of the 15th of

September, on the subject of leased territories in China,||

and to the letter from this Department of even date trana

mitting a copy of a despatch from the Governor of Hong Kong reporting on his recent visit to Weihaiwei to inves-

tigate the present conditions and future prospects of

the territory.

2. I am to request you to inform the Varquess

Curzon of Kedleston that rending the conclusion of the

Conference at Washington it is not possible to deal with

Sir E.Stubbs's recommendations for the future adminis

tion and development of Weihaiwei and that Mr Church Church

accordingly proposes to defer consideration of the #ble gestions which the despatch contains under these heads.

He THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE,

understands that Lord Curzon shares his view that it not the cue of the British representatives at the ference to call attention to Weihaiwei, and he there- e presumes that no occasion is likely to arise of thering the recommendation in paragraph 30 of the re- it for an understanding with the Governments of China and United States of America as to customs duties; but he nks that it might be well that the British representa- es should have this recommendation in mind in case the stion were raised by others in such a way as to offer opportunity of furthering it.

I 80,

||

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

f. Gamble

FOREIGN OFFICE.