CO129-529-4 China- extraterritoriality 23-11-1931 - 31-12-1931 — Page 113

3.

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Minister for Foreign Affairs is quite alive to our

point about wishing to retain power to levy death

duties, and so far insists that, while there are no

death duties in China now, they should if and when

introduced be equally levied on estates of foreigners dying in China. Perhaps we could insist on retaining right to levy death duties as long as we retain excluded areas (Shanghai) and British courts therein.

I request urgent instructions on whole subject which

is too technical for us to handle here without further

guidance. As I anticipate a certain deadlock over excluded areas it will be no bad thing to have this

question of personal status as well as criminal

jurisdiction in reserve with which to make play

always provided that any form of compromise on personal

status is possible from our point of view.

5. May I if necessary offer reciprocity in

following articles; (a) arbitration, (b) rights in immovable property and expropriation and (c) military

service and forced loans? It may make all the differ-

ence if we can do so, especially in regard to (a) and (b). If we can I would suggest adding as final clause

to (? those) articles something on following lines:

"Chinese citizens in Great Britain shall enjoy on a

reciprocal basis the same rights as are above provided

for in the case of British subjects in China."

6. Please expedite instructions concering shipping article.

Addressed to Foreign Office No. 68; Peking and Tokyo; copy to Shanghai.

repeated to