CO129-471 - Public Offices - 1921 — Page 353

be closed simultaneously

2.

That satisfactory guarantees are forthcoming

for the maintenance of adequate foreign supervision over the Chinese Postal Administration.

3.

That the Siberian route shall (on its reopening)

352

be used for the postal service (both letter and parcel) between China and Great Britain.

4.

That any Censorship Regulations be applied

in a manner satisfactory to Foreign Powers,

5.

Reservation of the right to re-establish

the British Agencies in the event of the Chinese service deteriorating.

Note should at the same time be taken of the

offer contained in the final paragraph of the Waichiao-

Pu's note of the 7th, instant.

As regards the effect which the closing of the British Post Office would have upon the transmission of the diplomatic mails, I may refer you to my despatch No. 30 of January 30th, last showing that all "non- confidential" bags are already handled by the Chinese Post Office for the sake of expedition. "Confidential"

bage would continue to be sent, as now, by British steamer from Shanghai to Tientsin when opportunities of sending them by the hand of reliable British subjects travelling by rail are lacking.

I am sending a copy of this despatch to

His Excellency the Governor of Hongkong.

I have &c.,

(Signed) B. Alston,

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