FOREIGNERS IN CHINA.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19815, 31 December 1929, Page 9

FOREIGNERS IN CHINA.

ABOLITION OF SPECIAL RIGHTS. BRITISH ATTITUDE UNCHANGED. (BRITISH OFTICIAL. WIRELESS.) (Received December 30th. 5.5 p.m.> RUGBY, December 28. The Nanking Government has issued a mandate declaring the abolition ot extraterritorial rights in China a> from January Ist. This means that the Nationals of Great Britain. France. Japan, the United States, and other Powers will be subject to Chinese civil and criminal Courts instead of to Courts established by these Powers. These ridits in the case of Great Britain date from 1842. During recent years the Powers have re\ caled their readiness to aoo<?<l© to the national aspirations of the Chinese. The memorandum of Sir Austen Chamberlain three Years ago was an indication ot this desire, but. it has lveen obvious that the full surrender of extraterritorial rights could only lie gradual. The aide memoire which the British Government recently handed to th- x Chinese M inister in I/ondon expressed the British willingness, in conjunction with other interested Powers, to discuss the question of removal ot these rights, but with the above proviso. It is understood that the attitude of the British Government remains unchanged, it being still prepared to discuss the question of extraterritoriality with the other interested Powers. CHINESE SOVEREIGNTY. ABOLITION OF EXTRATERRITORIALITY. (united press association— by electric TELEGRAPH COPYRIGHT.) SHANGHAI, December 29. The Nanking Government's promised official mandate on the abolition ol extraterritoriality has been released through the Kuomintang official news agency, bearing the stamp of the State Council. The text is as follows-. — "Ex parte, for more than 80 years, China has been bound to a system ot extraterritoriality preventing the Chinese Government from exercising judicial power over foreigners in its territory, and creating defects and disadvantages which are unnecessary to the State. Until extraterritoriality is abolished, China will be unable to exercise full sovereignty. Therefore, for the purpose of restoring her inherent jurisdictional sovereignty, it is hereby decided and declared that on and after January Ist, 1930, which is the lirst day of the first month of the 19th year of the Republic, all foreign nationals in Chinese territory now enjoying extraterritorial privileges, shall abide by the laws, ordinances, and regulations duly promulgated by the central and local Governments in China."' TREATY POWERS EMBARRASSED. FRANCE TAKES EXCEPTION TO DECISION. (Received December 31st, 1 a.m.) LONDON, December 30. The "Daily Telegraph's" diplomatic contributor write#:—Representatives of the Treaty Powers are embarrassed at the renewed threat of the Nanking Government to abolish extra-territorial rights on Wednesday. Exchanges of views between the Treaty Powers themselves have remained in abeyance since the recent clash of arras between President Chiang Kai-shek and his rivals. There is no possibility of their »ompletion within forty-eight hours. On the other hand, the British Government early in the month forwarded to Nanking a memorandum embodying concessions to the Chinese standpoint on ex-tra-territorial rights, which the present Government is prepared to make. This memorandum went so far that it caused concern and resentment among most of the Treaty Powers.

A Paris message states that France takes strong exception to Nanking's attempt to revoke extraterritoriality by a unilateral act. The Chinese Ambassador has been informed that such action is regarded as a flagrant breach of the Treaty of Tientsin, ]BSB.