COPY
161
(F 7463//10)
This telegram is of particular secrecy and should be retained by the authorised recipient and not passed on
[Cypher
WAK CABINET DI TRIBUTION.
FROM: CHINA
sir H. Seymour. No. 1486
FROM CHUNGKING TO FOR IGN OFFICE
D. 4.10 p.m. 31st October, 1942 R. 6.35 pln. 31st October, 1942.
31st October, 1942.
My telegram No. 1434.
In handing over draft treaty to the Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs I gave explanation of Articles 5 and 7 on lines of paragraphs 3, 7 and 8 of your telegram No. 1394. I said that I should not expect the Vice minister for Foreign Affairs to enter on any detailed discussion until he had had time to study the draft but asked for his general group undec. ? impressions 7. He said that the Chinese Government while they might have some amendments to suggest, highly appreciated the spirit of the British and American proposals,
2.
Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs then said that the Chinese Government noticed that the draft contained no reference to the nevigation of internal waters. I replied that the draft was designed to deal with the abolition of extra territoriality and upkeep of settlements and concessions. Any questions regarding navigation would surely be more appropriately dealt with in the comprehensive treaty contemplated in article 8 of the present draft. It would be group undec. to introduce fürther questions which must cause delay: Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs said that hinese Government might not wish to raise this question now. I understand from my United States colleague that similar observations (including also the question of coastal navigation have been made to the State Department who returned similar reply.
3.
I then reminded the Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs that in previous negotiations it had been proposed bo clear up various subsidiary matters by means of de- clarations or in other ways and asked his views as to the possibility of dealing in this way with such matters us, in particular, questions of personal status. Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs was not very receptive to the suggestion and said that in fact Chinese courts did apply the law of the country of origin of the Foreign citizen concerned. He said this had been done in the case of the Germans and was quite satisfactory. I mentioned as example that Consuls were at present dealing with the administration of one or two deceased estates and said that I presumed that they would carry on the administration in these cases. This preliminary discussion was not encouraging es to the change of
/obtaining
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.