CO129-588-24 China- British extra-territorial rights- negotiations with China 23-11-1942 - 1-1-1943 — Page 291

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COPY for Secret record in Department

Mr. At

1. 12. 42.

114

SERE T

W.M.(42)162nd Conclusions

WAR

CABINET 162(42)

EXTRACT from CONCLUSIONS of a Meeting of the War Cabinet

held at 10 Downing Street, S.W.1., on

MONDAY, 30th NOVEMBER, 1942.

EXTRA-

TERRITORIALITY IN CHINA.

(Previous

Reference: W.M.(42)132nd Conclusions, Minute 3.)

The War Cabinet had before them a Memorandum by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (W.P. (42)557) as to the instructions to be sent to

His Majesty's Ambassador at Chungking about the draft treaty for the abrogation of extra-territorial rights. A major point at issue was the inclusion in the treaty of a provision whereby British subjects would be granted in China, on a reciprocal basis, national treatment in the carrying on of commerce. The Chinese had raised objection to this, and the United States Government had abandoned a similar provision in their draft treaty. The Foreign Secretary asked the War Cabinet to approve instructions being sent to His Majesty's Ambassador to stand out for national treatment for British commerce, even though this might delay the signing of a treaty.

The Foreign Secretary also proposed to resist the abandonment of our position in Kowloon.

The War Cabinet:-

Approved the course proposed.