Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, 1925, Volume I

793.00/57

The British Chargé ( Chilton ) to the Secretary of State

Manchester, Mass. , July 3, 1925.
[Received July 6.]

No. 677

Sir: On instructions from His Majesty’s Government, I have the honour to draw your attention to the note recently addressed by the Chinese Government to the Corps Diplomatique at Peking—the text of which you will no doubt have received from the United States representative at that capital, as also the suggested reply thereto submitted in the form of an identic telegram to their respective Governments by the heads of the Legations concerned.

2. His Majesty’s Government are impressed by the magnitude of the issues raised by this note, which include the question of extraterritoriality in all its aspects and the future attitude of the Powers towards the demands of China in such matters as the revision of treaties, the suppression of mixed courts, the retrocession of leased territories and fiscal autonomy. They have consequently devoted the most careful study to the suggestions contained in the identic telegram and I now have the honour to lay before you their comments thereon to which His Majesty’s Representative at Peking has been instructed to conform his action.

3. In the first place, His Majesty’s Government are of opinion that the reply to the note of the Chinese Government should make it clear that the Powers are not prepared to discuss particular reforms, much less to review their Treaty relations with China until order has been fully restored and the Chinese Government have given proof of their determination to repress anti-foreign agitations and to enforce respect for the safety of foreign lives and property. Provided that these conditions are emphasized and placed in the fore-front of the reply, His Majesty’s Government approve the reference to the meeting of the Tariff Conference as worded in the identic telegram.

4. As regards the question of extra-territoriality, His Majesty’s Government are apprehensive lest the Chinese Government interpret a promise to expedite the meeting of the Commission as a sign of weakness on the part of the Powers. In these circumstances, they are disposed to think that the Powers should do no more in their reply than point out that the Commission will be the competent body to examine this question and leave it at that.

5. The above comments, which have also been communicated to the Japanese, French and Belgian Governments, represent the considered views of His Majesty’s Government in the matter, and in bringing them to your notice, I have the honour to enquire whether the United States Government concur therein, and if so, whether they are prepared to send instructions to the United States representative at Peking similar to those which have been already addressed to His Majesty’s Representative.

I have [etc.]

H. G. Chilton