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pledged under the Moscow Declaration not to interfere in Chinese internal affairs, and we shall continue to adhere to that pledge. We must avoid, as the noble Viscount who spoke last said, giving the impression of being patronising to a very great people. In the meantime we welcome the steps taken by the Chinese National Government under Chiang Kai-shok to terminate one-party rule and to inaugurate constitutional government, A Constitution which follows much the same lines as agreed upon at the All-Party Political Consultative Conference in January 1946 was promulgated on 1st January, 1947, and is due to come into force next Christmas Day,
Meanwhile, an interim Government is to be formed and will, again in accordance with the recommendations of the Political Consultative Conference, be enlarged to include liberal democratic elements, and I understand that a number of seats will be loft vacant for members of the Communist Party. I think it is unfortunato that the Communists, who accepted the decisions of the Political Consultative Conforence, should have so far refused to associate them- selves with the constitutional developments which implement those decisions. I carnos ly hope in the national interest that they will not reject this further opportunity to participate in a representative, democratic Government of China, thus bringing unity and peace to that country and its people, and I earnestly hope that the other Parties, for their part, vill make it easy and possible for the Communists to come in.
President Truman has rightly said, in describing the difficulties of General Marshall's mission, that halting civil strife, broadening the base of the Chinese Government, and bringing about a united, democratic China are tasks for the Chinose themselves. I hope that American efforts at mediation will continue. His Majesty's Government will give all possible moral support for this purpose both to the United States Government and to Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shok's National Government. Moral support may not sound a very effective weapon in helping to solve the unhappy dispute which now afflicts China; but our prestige in China stands high, and I venture to think that this country's age-long adherence to democracy, our historical position in the Far East and the world as a whole, and, above all, our long experience and sympathy of China and the Chino sé combino to give us an influenco with the Chinese Government and people which can be usefully brought to bear in helping China to get out of her difficultics.
May I now turn to consider the British position in China. As has beon pointed out by the noble Lord, Lord Ailwyn, the Treaty of 1945 involved, and inevitably involved, the relinquishmeat of the extra territorial rights which we had enjoyed. That was, as the noble Lord said, right; that was, as he said, inevitable. We have to take up the threads from there, Our merchants are now operating under Chinese administration in what were formerly foreign- administered settlements and concessions, and under Chinese law throughout China. They are having to re-adapt themselves and their methods to the new conditions. have to face many difficulties which are, unfortunately,
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