CO129-482 - Public Offices - 1923 — Page 133

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the Dutch Authorities.

The Diplom¬tic Body Committee which (as reported in

xý denbatch No, 374) wan to be set up to discuss the question

of the Chinese Nationality Law in its relation to the "Mixed

Court Protege" scandals, has sinco materialised in the form of

the Chinese Secretaries to the American, British, Dutch and

Japanese Tegatione, under the presidency of the former; only

one meeting has so far been held, at which the Acting Chinese

Recretary to this Legation placed before his Colleagues the

view that if the C ›mmittee was merely to study the Chinese

Nationality Taw in its application to the question of Chinese

acquiring foreign mtionality or protection in China ( a question

which could not arise in connection with imeri com, British, Dutch

or Japanese Nationality or protection since the sare could in no

cane be required in Ching) they could only support the Chinese

Contention and condemn the practice of the Latin Powers concerned

in this respect. In this view the other members of the Committee

concurred, and it was decided to refer to the Dean for further in-

struction ar to the aspects of the question to be studied.

Am

at-ted in my despatch No. 374 above referred to, I am doubtful

whether any ameful nurpose will be served by this Committee and

A