CO129-588-24 China- British extra-territorial rights- negotiations with China 23-11-1942 - 1-1-1943 — Page 281

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MESSAGE FROM DEPARTMENT OF STATE

DATED NOVEMBER 24, 1942

281

A separate message is being sent to you under the same date with respect to the proposed exchange of notes supplementary to the draft treaty on extra- territoriality.

During a call at the Department on November 23rd the Chinese Minister Counselor urged that we move for- ward rapidly in the matter of the draft treaty, mentioned that the Central Executive Committee of the Kuomintang was now in session at Chungking, said that the Chinese Foreign Office had been telegraphing the Chinese Embassy urgently and felt that if the treaty text could be agreed upon before the termination of the meetings the political benefits in China as well as in our relations with China would be increased. He asked and urged that our views in regard to the Chinese Government's suggested modifications be communicated formally to the Chinese Embassy within this week.

It seems to us that if the Chinese are thus anxious to expedite the whole matter acceptance by them of our views in regard to their suggested modifications and of our counter suggestions would be greatly facilitated if we could act without delay. Moreover there would thereby also more fully accrue to us the general advantages which we had envisaged in the early stages of the formu- lation of the treaty project as obtainable through timely action in relinquishing our extraterritorial and other special rights in China.

We assume that the Chinese Embassy in London may be making similar importunities and we would be most grateful if the British Government could expedite its replies to you so that we could hand to the Chinese Embassy he re within this week our reply to the Chinese document of November 10th. It is believed that all of the points mentioned in the Chinese document as well as all that we for our part have had in mind have been covered in our telegrams to you; and the document which we envisage handing to the Chinese Embassy, would, of course be along lines that we have suggested in those telegrams.