CO129-529-5 China- extraterritoriality 23-11-1931 - 31-12-1931 — Page 27

[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.]

27

375

To CHINA.

Cypher telegram to Sir M. Lampson (Shanghai).

Foreign Office. 17th December, 1931.

6.15 p.m.

No. 174 (Tour).

374

Your telegrams Nos. 372 and 385 of 7th December and

12th December.

Extraterritoriality.

1. His Majesty's Government have now considered the

question of extraterritoriality. By winding up the

negotiations in June last, the late Government secured a

strong tactical position from which to face any new situa-

tion that may arise during the period of political chaos

that, as was then foreseen, lay ahead. In order to avoid

any weakening of that position and in view of the practical

certainty that the Chinese will take the initiative in

going back on the terms of the draft treaty, it seems

desirable to adopt the attitude that the question whether

His Majesty's Government are or are not prepared to sign the draft treaty, or any similar question, cannot arise

until negotiations have been actually resumed, and that

such resumption cannot take place for a considerable time

to come. His Majesty's Government have carried their

negotiations to the furthest possible point and the whole question must, therefore, remain in abeyance until negoti- tions with other Powers have made similar progress and

until there seems some probability that China will be able

to implement any treaty that may result from such negotia- tions.

If the Minister for Foreign Affairs approaches you

again