FOREIGNERS IN CHINA

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 82, 31 December 1929, Page 9

FOREIGNERS IN CHINA

SUBJECT TO COURTS OF COUNTRY EXTRATERRITORIAL RIGHTS ABOLISHED ATTITUDE OF BRITAIN British Official Wireless. (Rec. December 30, 5.5 p.m.) Rugby, December 29. The Nanking Government has issued a mandate deciai ing tlie abolition of extraterritorial rights in China as from Januare 1. 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 Courts established by these Powers. These rights, in the case of Great Britain, date from 1842. During recent years the Powers have revealed a readiness to accede to the national aspirations of the Chinese. The memorandum of Sir Austen Chamberlain three years ago was an indication of this desire. But it has been obvious that the full: surrender of extraterritorial rights could only be gradual. An aide-memoire which the British Government recently handed to the Chinese Minister in London expressed British willingness, in conjunction with the other interested Powers, to discuss the question of the removal of 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. OFFICIAL MANDATE Shanghai, December 29. The Nanking’s Government’s promised official mandate on the abolition of extraterritorality has been released, through the Kournin Official News Agency,’bearing the stamp of the State Council. It says, inter alia:— “For more than eighty years China has been bound to a system of extraterritorality, preventing the Chinese Government from exercising judicial power over foreigners in its territory, with defects and disadvantages which it is unnecessary to state. Until extraterritorality is abolished, China will be unable to exercise full sovereignity. Therefore, for the purpose of restoring her inherent jurisdictional sovereignity, it is hereby decided and declared that on and after January 1, 1930, which is the first day of the first month of the ninteenth year of the Republic, all foreign nationals in Chinese territory now erijoying extraterritorial privileges, shall abide b? the laws, ordinances, and regulations duly promulgated bv the Central local Government of China.” MEASURES TO PROTECT AMERICANS Washington, December 28. The American Government will take stringent measures to protect the rights of her nationals in China if there is any infringement of their privileges under the present extraterritorial provisions of the Chinese-American Treaty. This attitude was indicated at the State Department.