CO129-501-5 Chinese situation- Recognition of Canton Government 22-7-1927 - 28-9-1927 — Page 35

4.

control except over main centres of population.

We are of opinion that the proposals of His Majesty's Government proceed too fast and do not

sufficiently recognize the fact that China is at

present so unsettled and has a standard of civiliza-

tion which differs so widely from ours that there is grave risk in allowing its various governing authorit- ies such power over British subjects as is involved

in the proposals of last January. We also consider

that the weakness of foreign Powers in allowing first

the Cantonese and then other Chinese regional

authorities to secure the Washington surtaxes illegally

and unconditionally after a prolonged anti-British

boycott of Hong Kong, followed by proposals for a far-

reaching, unilateral surrender of treaty privileges

immediately consequent on the violent seizure of the

British Concessions at Hankow and Kiukiang, has

undoubtedly encouraged Chinese extremists to further

outrages, such as those at Nanking, and that, if any attempt were now made to implement these proposals,

it would be a direct invitation to these extremists

to tear up treaties and repudiate obligations, with

the result that war would become inevitable.

Moreover, so long as we do not recognize any Government in any part of China, we cannot insist on

fulfilment of obligations in return for what we surrender.

Finally, we presume that there is no intention

that British subjects alone should be deprived of

privileges and treaty-rights, while the subjects of

other

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