[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.]
29
From C
Decode.
Sir H. Lampson (18.
April 1931.
D.
3.30 p.m. 21st April 1931
R.
10.40 a.m. 21st April 1931.
No. 103. (R). Tour.
139
1344
For confidential information only.
My telegram of April 18th. Only three real points
raised by Tientsin joint committee as follows:
A. Whether mining rights could not be included in as-
surance regarding rights in immovable property. This was
raised by Young.
E. Whether safeguards could not be included to prevent
members or employees of a company being held liable in case
of actions against company and thus victimized until company
pays amount in question.
C. Whether a British company associated with Chinese
in business will be liable to forfeit their rights under
treaty.
2. As regards A. I am doubtful of advisa bility
of dragging in our rights under mining concessions at
this late stage. In theory there is nothing in the aboli-
tion of extraterritoriality which should affect such rights
which rest so far as they exist on definite agreements. If
we open up question now we do not know where it is leading
us especially in view of ill-feeling at present existing
against Kailan mining administration owing to their unfor-
tunate dispute with Peking Mukden Railway.
3. As regards B. we should have, it seems to me to continue to seek redress through diplomatic channels in the case of such abuses.
4. As regards C. this would seem to be a question of how far company retains its British character under British Chinese law and I do not see how we could well cover point in proposed treaty.
5. I shall take no action unless instructed. Addressed to Foreign Office No.108. Repeated to Peking No.177, copies to Shanghai and Tientsin.
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