Copie
DO Bo
BF
& Monson
Copy Colonial Office
MIST Aduk
(F 7596/823/10)
OUT ARD
TELEGRAM
With
S NOT
This Document is the roperty of His Britannic Majesty's Gov rnment,
and should be kept under Lock and Key
68
This telegram is of particular secrecy_and should be retained by the authorised recipient and not passed on
BAR CABINET DISTRIBUTION
CYPHER
TO: CHINA
No. 1485
FROM FOR SIGN OFFICE TO CHURUKING
17th November, 1942.
D. 3.20 p.m.
17th November, 1942.
Repeated to «ashington No. 495 (Saving by air).
8 8 8
52
Your telegram No. 1486 of 31st October:
extra-territoriality.
Chinese Embassy in shington have asked the State Department whether questions of inlena n vigation and coastal trade are covered in the treaty and if not whether these are subjects reserved for later negotiation. The tate Department gave temporising reply pending consultation with us. They do not wish to ze ervo any rights not conformable to modern international elations and they have suggested to us the addition of an article to the treaty relinquishing coastal trade and inland navigation subject to a most- favoured-nation clause, but securing national treatment for our shipping in other respects.
2.
e have replied through the United States Embassy to the following effect. The above rights are not specifically mentioned or abrogated by the draft treaty and His Majesty's Government would be very reluctant to include in the present treaty any restrictive provisions regarding shipping which may not be strictly necessary. They would wish instead to discuss these questions in the coure of the negotiations for the later comprehensive treaty with a view to arriving at some mutual arrangement.
3. Meanwhile His Majesty's Government would be prepared to tell the Chinese Goverment that while they have no wish to retain the unilaterial treaty rights they at present possess they hope that pending the negotiations for e comprehensive treaty the Chinese Goverment will not prohibit British shipping from engaging in inland navigation end, when this again becomes possible, the coastal trace of China, especially sa both in the United Kingdom and the
olonies Chinese shipping is in practice permitted to engage in these trades.
A.
be further informed the United States dov rnment that in our opinion the above line would make a better tactical approach to the Chinese Gov rament than the immediate offer of treaty restrictions and would save time in negotiating the treaty as a whole. If, nevertheless the inclusion of an additional article became unavoidable, His Majesty's Government would be willing to accept one on the general lines proposed by the State Department but would wish in the British draft to bring the wording into line with the comparable provisions in other commercial treaties concluded by this country and to consult further with the Government of Indie.
The above 18 for your information only and you should not
e are still in consultation act on it pending further instructions.
5.
with
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.