FESIS' 1828/10.
4.5.J. Gent Esq. c.Me. 74
Colonial office
[This telegram is of particular secrecy and should be retained
by the authorised recipient and not passed on]
[CYPHER]
WAR CABINET DISTRIBUTION
FROM: CHINA
FROM CHUNGKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE
Sir H. Seymour
D.
No. 1736
R.
2,20 p.m. 3.30 p.m.
28th December, 1942. 28th December, 1942,
28th December, 1942.
000 0
IMMEDIATE
My telegram No. 1732.
Kowloon.
Minister for Foreign Affairs informed me to-day that the Chinese Government had had two discussions on our proposed exchange of notes. They felt that this solution was not one they could accept. He then made earnest appeal for reconsideration of the question by His Majesty's Government, He said that as a result of our discussions we had reached agreement on every other point, that Sino-British relations, which he had much at heart, had markedly improved during the last few months, and that present settlement ought to be such as would lay a really firm foundation for those relations of our two countries. He again emphasised very strongly the feeling of the Chinese Government and people against the continued existence of leased territories and urged rongly that His Majesty's Government should agree to declare now their readiness to return leased territories to China, details to be negotiated later. This could be separate from the treaty but any settlement which left out Kowloon lease would fail in its object of establishing our relations on a basis of mutual confidence. Such a failure would be a great disappointment to him personally.
repeate
2. I spoke on the lines I have previously done and need not
3. The Minister for Foreigr Affairs said, and I believe it, that he had tried getting our proposal accepted but had been over- ruled. I also accepted his statements as to Chinese feeling on this question. This feeling has always existed and is naturally strengthened by the emphasis laid abroad on China's position as one of the big four, her equality with the other leaders of the United Nations, et cetera.
4. Dr. Soong refrained from stating categorically that the Chinese Government would not sign treaty in the absence of a declaration that we would return le ased territory but evidently wished to convey that impression, whether they will refuse or not.
I cannot say for certain They may not have decided.
If
they /
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.