CO129-470 - Public Offices - 1921 — Page 312

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meriam citisens frm the right to sentrest freely with the

hinese Öeverment for any estegory of supplies. The adoption

f much an exclusive or preferential right in behalf of Brition

interests would frankly reice in the mind of the merican Govern-

bant a doubt whether it has quite understood the ɔštitude of kis

britannie Majesty's Dovariment during the course of the retent

iforts to co-operate in maxing real and effective the principle

• aquality of sommereial- and industrial opportunities in China.

La american Government feels that it must in oandour make clear

1.: position that such a claim to menopoly or preference in the

-ply of equipment to any service of the Chinese Government, ia,

in its view, fundamentally repugnant to the principle of the " open kor" and to treaty rights, and that the merican Goverment is 1.- prepared to recognise my slnim te contrsatual rights in favour jany porky as valid or sfiestive in excluding its nationals from my field of commercial or industrial «otivity in chine,

י

It is thought that his Britanio Kejesty's Government may rhaps net be aware that as long ago no 1917 the America Gever- at feand socasion to apply this interɔretation of the "opan door" -incipis ko against the claims of certain of its own notionals

per the following circumstanG 08.

üm Ooteber 2uth, 1017, - by a contrast closely analagous to

- the restern : a Mareeni contrast with the Chinese fireless Company 2) satrie Company, an American Company, formed with the chinese vernment the China zlectric Company, which, recording to the ovisions of the contrast, was to have a preference for the supply C all "machinery, apparatus or other materials in connection with ine telephone and telegraph systems" required by the Chinese Jinistry of Communications. Von begoning soquainted with this provision, and after consultation with the United States Oeverımant,

the/