711.933/253: Telegram
The Minister in China ( Johnson ) to the Acting Secretary of State
Department’s telegram number 33, January 25, 6 p.m.57
- 1.
- I saw the British Minister today and informed him of contents of this telegram, stating that it was [apparent omission] that proposal referred simply to transfer of civil cases.
- 2.
- British Minister will this afternoon see C. T. Wang and lay before him first definite British proposal which he showed to me, and which is practically the draft submitted to us in November,57 proposing transfer of jurisdiction by category of cases beginning with civil cases and the employment by the Chinese of foreign judges, British retaining jurisdiction over civil cases between British subjects. Other details same as November draft.
- 3.
- British Minister pointed out that while our proposal went along the lines of Chinese proposal for legal counselors, his instructions required him to insist upon employment of foreign cojudges, thus evidencing to Chinese lack of agreement with us on this matter.
- 4.
- British Minister has not received from British Legation complete copy of our draft which you communicated to British Embassy at Washington. Will you therefore please telegraph draft to Adams58 in order that he may supply British Minister here with copy.
Johnson