POWERS & CHINA

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 83, 2 January 1930, Page 2

POWERS & CHINA

EXTRATERRITORIALITY CLAUSE OF BRITISH TREATIES NOT DENOUNCED YET (British Oflieial Wireless.) Rugby, December 30. . Notwithstanding the mandate issued in Nanking declaring the abolition of extraterritoriality,, the Chinese Governinent has not yet denounced the extraterritoriality clause of its treaties with His Majesty’s Government. It is therefore premature to pronounce any opinion as to what procedure may be contemplated ,li.v the Chinese Government. The British Government ' recently made clear in an aide-memoire to Nanking that it accepted the pritiextraterritorial privileges of British subjects in China should be considered its beginning from January 1 next, and it is assumed that the Chinese Government is prepared to enter into negotiations with this end in view. BRITISH MEMORANDUM RESENTED BY OTHER POWERS London, December 30. The “Daily Telegraph’s” diplomatic contributor writes that representatives of the Treaty Powers are embarrassed nt the renewed threat of the ciplo that the gradual abolition of the

Nanking Government to abolish extraterritorial rights on Wednesday. Exchanges of views between the Treaty Powers themselves have remained m abeyance siiice the recent clash of arms between President Chiang Kaishek and his rivals, ami there is no possibility of their completion in fortyeight hours. On the other, hand, the British Government early in the month forwarded to Nanking a memorandum embodying concessions to the Chinese standpoint on extraterritorial 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 Anking’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 of 1858. Washington, December 30. China’s formal announcement that extraterritoriality privileges will be abolished on January 1, having to-day reached the State Department, it is learned that British and American diplomats have already discussed joint action in opposition to China's move, but no decision has yet been made. It is intimated that there has been an informal exchange of views among all the nations affected.