793.003/883
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Bingham) to the Secretary of
State
No. 3197
London, July 10, 1937.
[Received July
21.]
Sir: I have the honor to refer to the
Department’s telegraphic instruction No. 107, March 27, 12 noon,
regarding the question of the possible resumption of extraterritorial
negotiations with the Chinese Government, and to the interim reply which
Sir Alexander Cadogan44 made on behalf of the
British Government and reported in the last two paragraphs of the
Embassy’s No. 292, May 18, 6 p.m.45
[Page 643]
In this connection there is transmitted herewith copy of a further
communication from the Foreign Office dated July 9, 1937.
Respectfully yours,
For the Ambassador:
Herschel V.
Johnson
Counselor of
Embassy
[Enclosure]
The British Deputy Under Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs (Cadogan) to the American
Counselor of Embassy in the United Kingdom (Atherton)
No. F3546/1906/10
[London,] 9 July, 1937.
Dear Atherton: In the interim reply on the
subject of extraterritoriality in China that was sent to you on the
14th May last a further communication was promised after His
Majesty’s Government had considered the questions of policy
involved. I now write to say that His Majesty’s Government adhere to
the view that it would be best to wait until the Chinese Government
take the initiative in this matter. In the event of a request being
received from the Chinese Government to negotiate on the subject of
extraterritoriality, His Majesty’s Government are of opinion that
they should adopt the same friendly and sympathetic attitude as in
the previous negotiations, and that they should adhere substantially
to the policy of the 1931 draft. His Majesty’s Government agree with
the view expressed by the United States Embassy in China that the
Chinese Government may now endeavour to obtain a more far-reaching
abolition of extraterritoriality than that envisaged in the 1931
draft. Nevertheless it would seem best to begin negotiations on the
broad basis of that draft and defer consideration of details until
after the negotiations have actually begun.
As I have already indicated in my interim reply, His Majesty’s
Government welcome and reciprocate the desire of the United States
Government for continued collaboration between the two Governments
in this matter.
Yours sincerely,