CO129-496 - Public Offices - 1926 — Page 95

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chief delegates, 1.e. the diplomatic representatives

of the Powers concerned?

2.

In the event of the Conference being in

practice adjourned or suspended for any con-

siderable period, however, I agree with you that it

is not only desirable but essential that in order

to avoid a charge of breach of faith it should first

at least agree to the levy of the Washington silr-

taxes.

3. I should greatly prefer that the initiative

should if possible be left to oue of the other Powers.

It has occurred to me that the delegates of the other

Fowers are also seeking an opportunity to suspend the

Conference. In that case, perhaps the safest way out

of the deadlock would be for you to wait until the proposal to suspend the Conference is made by some

other delegation, preferably at a meeting of the

Conference, when you would agree to their proposals

but make a statenent to the following effect. You

would point out that good faith demands that the

Conference be not suspended without first liquidating

the promises made at Washington, and state that you

are therefore in favour of granting China the Washington surtaxes without attaching any conditions whatever: you would add that His Majesty's Government

are willing that China should enjoy tariff autonomy from the 1st January, 1929, and that you hope the delegates of the other Powers will see their way

to...