37
United Kingdom Government feel that they are entitled to claim on a basis of equality and reciprocity that the principle of national treatment in commerce should be recognised. Nevertheless they appreciate that the application in detail of this principle is a matter which will fall to be considered in the later comprehensive treaty. In order to bridge the gap and to meet any qualms the Chinese may have on this subject, the United Kingdom Government propose to instruct His Majesty's Ambassador at Chungking to inform the Chinese that while they wish to retain the words "and the carrying on of commerce" in the second sentence of Article 6 of the United Kingdom draft treaty, they are prepared to agree to the insertion at the beginning of this sentence of the words "Pending the conclusion of the comprehensive treaty mentioned in Article 8" This sentence is already phrased in a tentative way ("will endeavour to accord") and the insertion of the additional phrase now proposed should from the Chinese point of view emphasise its provisional character, while from the United Kingdom point of view it will establish that this is a matter for later negotiation.
6. In both the matters referred to in paragraph 4 above United Kingdom Government are only asking Chinese Government to give to British subjects rights which are in fact accorded to Chinese in this country.
75
If it be suggested that draft treaty with Chinese should be confined to simple declaration of abrogation of treaties conferring extra-territorial rights it should be borne in mind that, even if such a treaty were satisfactory to the Chinese Government, it would probably have the effect of depriving British subjects in China of certain rights which they at present enjoy there and which are also accorded to Chinese nationals here. In the opinion of the United Kingdom Government once these rights are abrogated it may be difficult to induce the Chinese Government to grant them again in the proposed comprehensive treaty.
Copy to:-
W.C.O.
F.0.
Sir B. Bridges,
Sir Basil Newton.
F.0.
Mr. Ashley Clarke
1.0.
Mr. Rumbold.
8.0.
Mr. Annan.
0.0.
Mr. Moneon.
Tray.
Mr. Young.
D.O.T.
Mr. Golaby.
B/T.
Mr. Fraser.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.