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the lines contemplated in that despatch might eventually
be reached that His Majesty's Government have maintained
the present system under which British Consuls have been
instructed to protect and exercise jurisdiction over
certain categories of British subjects of Chinese race
in China but to abandon the claim to do so whenever it
was effectively challenged by the Chinese authorities. It
is to be feared, however, that this course of action, while
opening the door to many abuses, has in some cases actually
inflicted injury on the persons whom it was sought to
protect. A striking example of this has recently been
reported by His Majesty's Consul General at Shanghai in
a despatch copy of which is being communicated to the
Colonial Office in Foreign Office letter F 2732/892/10
of May 18th.
British Consular Officers in China have
moreover been placed in an unsatisfactory and sometimes even
in a humiliating position.
4. There would appear therefore to be strong arguments in
favour of adopting the course now advised by Sir Miles Lampson,
namely, make a clean cut and in future treat Anglo-Chinese
who are not formally denationalised in all respects as
Chinese citizens in China. The Chinese authorities have
now formally admitted that Anglo-Chinese have dual nationality
and the discussion reported in Paragraph 6 of Sir Miles
Lampson's despatch enclosed herein may be regarded as a
satisfactory assurance that no obstacles will be placed in
the way of such persons divesting themselves of their
Chinese
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