793.003/386: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain (Dawes)
194. Reference Department’s mail despatch 395, June 12, 1930.47 Peiping quotes news despatch, Reuter, London, August 1, stating that in reply to questions in the House, Dalton, Under Secretary, said British Government had nearly completed consideration of proposals on extraterritoriality drawn up by Lampson, British Minister, and that “the Government hoped to communicate the proposals shortly to the Chinese Government”.
Johnson, in memorandum of conversation with Lampson dated May 1, states that Lampson intimated that he would spend month of September at Nanking for the purpose of negotiating on question of extraterritoriality, although no one in Nanking Government seemed, at that time, inclined to press the question of extraterritoriality.
You are instructed to approach the Foreign Office and, referring to Hornbeck’s letter to Campbell48 and conversations with Huxley, June 9 and 10, inquire (a) whether Foreign Office has any comments to make, (b) whether it is true that British Government expects shortly to communicate proposals to the Chinese Government, (c) whether Foreign Office would be willing to agree that neither British nor American Government should present proposals without two weeks previous notification to the other Government.
You will inquire whether Foreign Office or Lampson have discussed Department’s latest draft, dated June 4, with Japanese. You will say that Department has not as yet done so. You will state that [Page 454] Department now contemplates giving copies to Japanese and Netherlands representatives and would welcome any comment Foreign Office may feel disposed to make.
In case Foreign Office states or intimates that it intends to proceed with the matter at Nanking “shortly” you will inquire on what basis Foreign Office believes that any useful purpose will be served by doing so at this time.
Please reply by telegraph.