CO129-490 - Public Offices - 1925 — Page 628

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3.

It is certainly undesirable to hand over any

British subjects to the vicissitudes of Chinese law.

At the same time it is the usual principle applied by His Majesty's Government in other countries not to claim

to protect British subjects who are of another nationality

in the country of that nationality; and if by ceasing

to claim the right to protect category (d) of these British subjects of Chinese origin in China His Majesty's

Government can obtain the means of adequately protecting categories (a), (b) and (c) by agreement with the Chinese Government, such a settlement can be regarded as satisfactory at a time when British extra-territorial jurisdiction has been much reduced in other countries,

e.g. in Turkey.

4. Subject to Mr. Secretary Amery's concurrence, Mr. Chamberlain proposes to send instructions to Mr.

Palairet by telegraph to the effect that he may limit his representations to the Chinese Government to a claim to protect bona fide British subjects in categories (a), (b) and (c) of paragraph 4 of the despatch to Sir R.Macleay No. 30 of January 15th, but that this concession does not

B of affect the instructions contained in paragraphs 5 that despatch, which should be carefully carried out.

I am to ask the favour of an early reply.

I am,

5.

-

Sir,

Your obedient Servent,

George Mounsey.