CO129-507-2 China- protection of Anglo-Chinese 11-11-1927 - 23-11-1928 — Page 27

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important that the interests of loyal British-

born subjects of Chinese race in British

Possessions should not be sacrificed for the

object of avoiding further conflicts with the

Chinese authorities or for any other object".

9. The first point to which I would draw

special attention is in paragraph 15 of Sir Miles Lampson's despatch. We feel that the Minister regards unduly lightly the possibility of unreasonable delay on the part of the

Chinese Authorities in the issue of denationalization

certificates and that it is unwise to ignore this risk.

The Chinese Goverment has not yet reached that position

of stability in which the possibility of sudden changes

involving serious risk of delay in the issue of denational-

ization certificates can be disregarded. We therefore

consider that arrangements should be made vi er eby an Anglo-

Chinese who can prove satisfactorily to the Consular

Authority that his certificate of denationalization is being unreasonably withheld, should, if otherwise accepta- ble, be registered and protected as a British Subject.

In paragraphs 16 to 19 of his despatch Sir Miles Lamps on discusses the position of the descendants of Anglo-Chinese who have obtained denationalization

certificates, and I would first observe that his proposals

proceed on the assumption that all such descendants will

be claimed by the Chinese Goverment as being of Ühinese Nationality. I have no knowledge of the Chinese view on this question, but should the Chinese Government disclaim

such descendants and admit that they possess Dritish Rationality only, the Minister's proposals would break down, for the descendants would have no Chinese Nationality

10.

to renounce and we should be morally bound, unless they wer

undesirable