CO129-517-7 Draft Commercial Treaty with China- Governor's action 14-3-1929 - 25-7-1929 — Page 14

[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government, and should be returned to the Foreign Office if not required for official use.]

FROM CHINA.

Decypher.

Sir M. Lampson. (Peking)

May 3rd, 1929.

D.

6.50.p.m. May 3rd, 1929.

R.

3.00.p.m. May 3rd, 1929.

No. 399.

IMPORTANT.

-000

14

Hongkong telegram No. 8.

I regret that visit to Hongkong is impossible. Ι.

could not leave legation for so long in present circun-

stances.

I was unaware that views of Governor had been in-

vited on any but Article 18: end fact that he has con-

sulted Hongkong merchants on rest of draft without prior

consultation with me is embarrassing; seeing that

Shanghai merchants still know nothing of it.

I had pro-

posed taking them into my confidence on arrival there

just as I did with good results in case of tariff

treaty.

Now my liberty of action has been compromised.

I am strongly and definitely opposed to postponing

presentation of draft until Hongkong has had time to

consult all and sundry interests as contemplated by

Governor.

For tactical reasons presentation at once on my ar-

rival in the south may be very desirable and may even

stave off awkward issue of extraterritoriality on which,

see Lr. Newton's telegram No. 83, I am certain to be

pressed. Subject to clarification of points mentioned

in my telegram my experts and I regard draft as complets-

ly satisfactory. But it is unlikely Chinese will agree

to..

• • •

•