[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.]
25
376
From
CHINA.
Decode.
Sir M. Lampson, (Bhanghai)
17th December, 1931.
D.
11.37 a.m. 17th December, 1931.
R.
9.00 ε.m. 17th December, 1931.
No.389. Tour. (R).
Extraterritoriality
44
I met joint committee of Chamber of Commerce and China Association and Committee of newly formed British Residents' Association separately at Shanghai on December 16th and explained present position and recent developments including action taken in urging postponement of mandate of May 4th, I said I was still awaiting views of His Majesty's Covernment (see your telegram No.167) and that in the meantime I saw no prospect in view of Chinese political situation of any resumption of negotiations at present time. I informed British Residents Association that I welcomed formation of such a body as a useful channel for free expression of opinion and I emphesized value of reasoned statement of view and constructive criticism. Nothing of special moment passed,
Hope was expressed that His Majesty's present Government might reverse the policy of their predecessors and usual arguments were put forward regarding China's unfitness for abolition of extraterritoriality; to which I replied by reminding meeting that real point was rather how far we were prepared and how far it was on balance desirable to
go
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