160
5
to place relations between His Majesty's Government and government actually exercising authority over greater part of South China on a fresh and friendly His footing corresponding to altered circumstances, Majesty's Coverment recognise Nationalist govern- ment as being a governing authority and being the heir in respect of those provinces which it controls or may hereafter control to all the rights, oblige-- tions and engagements of government of Chinese Republic. His Majesty's Goverment invite Nation- alist government to appoint delegates furnished with full powers to enter into the negotiations referred to above and to (? gp. amt.) delegates furnished with similar powers by His Majesty's Government for this purpose at some convenient place to be agreed upon
in China'.
Objects of this declaration would be fourfold. 1. to be intelligible beyond all irresponsible misunderstanding to the whole world.
To put us completely and demonstrably in
the right.
3. To justify the use should this unfortunately become necessary of armed forces for protective pur-
poses and
4.
To be as difficult as possible for Southern government to reject or answer equivocally.
While I prefer my own plan I can see O'Malley's proposal to define our position by a clear-cut declaration has certain attractions and it is for
that/
13.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.