711.933/33

Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs (Hornbeck) of a Conversation With the Chinese Special Representative (C. C. Wu)

[Extract]

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Dr. Wu inquired concerning our reaction to the tentative proposal submitted by him during the conversation of January 5. Mr. Hornbeck [Page 548] replied that he could indicate our reaction in a few words: we felt that the proposal could not be regarded as offering a basis for discussion: it offered nothing toward the solution of the major problem involved, namely, the problem of devising a procedure for a transition period. Dr. Wu said that it was what had been adopted in the case of Turkey. Mr. Hornbeck said that, reiterating the views which he had expressed in earlier conversations, the conditions and circumstances of the problem as presented in China bore out only a few points of a likeness or an analogy to the conditions and circumstances in the case of Turkey. Dr. Wu said that these proposals contemplated a transitional period. Mr. Hornbeck replied that it was felt in the Department that it provided nothing toward facilitating a, gradual relinquishment of the extraterritorial rights now enjoyed by Americans in China and the gradual taking over of jurisdiction by the Chinese. He said that by this time it should be clear that, to make these discussions profitable, there must be presented from some source a working scheme such as that which had obviously been envisaged, though with no indication of the type to be adopted, by the makers of the new Belgian and Italian treaties with China, which they had agreed should yet be agreed upon before the abolition of extraterritoriality shall take place. Dr. Wu inquired what kind of provisions Mr. Hornbeck had in mind. Mr. Hornbeck replied that he had in mind provisions which would be designed to meet the situation reported upon by the Extraterritoriality Commission32 and which would take cognizance of the recommendations of things which needed to be done in order to make a satisfactory situation which were advanced by the Extraterritoriality Commission.

It was agreed that Dr. Wu should call for further discussion of that point.

S[tanley] K. H[ornbeck]
  1. Department of State, Report of the Commission on Extraterritoriality in China, Peking, September 16, 1926 (Washington, Government Printing Office, 1926).