Directory_and_Chronicle_1941 — Page 79

EXTRATERRITORIALITY

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time, had the wisdom and foresight to relinquish its special pri- vileges similar to those enjoyed hitherto by its nationals in China, and has had the satisfaction to find that the life and property of American citizens in Turkey have subsequently received full and adequate protection. The American Government, which did full justice to the Turkish people in the matter of jurisdiction without any apprehension and with satisfactory results, will no doubt solve the problem of Extraterritoriality in China in the same friendly and sympathetic spirit.

It has been perhaps brought to the knowledge of the American Govern- ment that the Chinese Government has recently concluded treaties with several other Powers which have agreed to relinquish Extraterritoriality on January 1, 1930. If it had appeared to the Government of those Powers, as it appears to the American Government, that there did not yet exist in this country a judiciary capable of rendering justice to their nationals and a body of laws adequate to give protection to their lives and property, they would certainly have refused to give up their privileged position and enter into the engage- ments they have made. Now that many of the Powers which participated in the discussions of Extraterritoriality at the Washington Conference have al- ready shown by an overt act that that system has outlived its usefulness and should be replaced by one in harmony with the actual state of things, there is no reason why the United States, upon which fell the honour of initiating the labours of that Conference, should not act in unison with those Powers, thus removing the difficulties which the Chinese Government might otherwise encounter in extending jurisdiction over all foreign nationals.

It is the hope of the Chinese Government that whatever misgivings and apprehensions the American Government may have in considering the subject under discussion will be now dispelled, and that, in the further examination of this subject, it will be actuated by much weighter considerations, namely, the enhancement of friendship between the Chinese and the American people, and hence the promotion of the material interests of both. It is with this last object in view that the Chinese Government now requests the American Gov- ernment to enter into immediate discussions with the authorised representative of the Chinese Government for making the necessary arrangements whereby Extraterritoriality in China will be abolished to the mutual satisfaction of both Governments.

"I avail myself, etc.,

WANG CHENGTING."

Monsieur le Ministre,

CHINESE REPLY TO FRANCE.

Nanking, September 7, 1929.

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Your Excellency's Note of August 10th in which you are good enough to transmit to me the views of your Government in regard to the request of the Chinese Government, con- tained in my Note of April 27th for the removal of restrictions on China's jurisdictional Government.

The Chinese Government is pleaded to be reminded by the French Govern- ment that it gave another proof of the friendly feelings it always entertained towards the Chinese people by signing the Tariff Autonomy Treaty last year. The friendship between China and France rests not only on common material interests, but also on close cultural ties and the ideals which have been an unfailing source of inspiration both to the Chinese and the French people in their political evolution. It is therefore with pleasure that the Chinese Government takes note of the sympathetic response of the French Government to the desire of China expressed in my last Note.