CO129-501-3 Chinese situation- Protection of British subjects of Chinese race 23-10-1926 - 21-12-1927 — Page 45

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who, ex hypothesi, were unwilling to forego their dual

nationality, would continue to be liable for all the

duties of British citizenship unless and until they

divested themselves of their British nationality in

accordance with the British Nationality and Status of

Aliens Act 1914. Such being the case, registration is

unnecessary for the purpose of being accepted by Great

Britain as a British subject in a British possession.

15. We cannot see any reason for making any distinc-

tion between British subjects of Chinese race of the first

and those of subsequent generations. Such a distinction appears to us wrong in principle, and might be grossly

unfair in practice. The only logical theory for justifying

such a distinction must be that a British subject of a

later generation is more loyal to the British Crown than

his forebears -- a theory which is not supported by

actual experience. In our opinion the only criterion must

be, and should be, the answer to this question:

for all times and purposes, and not merely as a temporary

expedient, a subject of the British Crown?" If the

answer is in the affirmative, and if he has registered

himself as a British subject in accordance with the

arrangements suggested, then every protection should be

afforded to him by the British government in China.

"Is he,

16. We have refrained from discussing details which

seem to us to be out of place in a memorandum written with

the object of bringing out the, leading principles of this important question. The arrangements we have suggested are designed for the purpose, on the one hand, of satisfy- ing the grievance of the Chinese Government against a

certain class of Anglo-Chinese alluded to above; and, on the other hand, of placing upon a fair and satisfactory

basis