CHINESE TREATY

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 189, 8 May 1931, Page 9

CHINESE TREATY

Hitch in Negotiations With Britain

'CONTROL OF PORTS

(Rec. May 7, 5.5 p.m.)

Official Wireless. Rugby, May 6. The position regarding the extraterritoriality negotiations in China was the subject of a statement in the House of Commons by the Foreign Secretary, Mr. Arthur Henderson. He said that an agreement had now been reached on a large number of details, providing, on the one hand, for the transfer of jurisdiction over British subjects in China from British to Chinese courts, and, on the other li..nd, for safeguards relating to the administration of justice calculated to give a feeling of confidence and security to the British nationals and British interests under the new regime. A serious obstacle, however, had arisen in connection with certain important treaty ports which, in view of the Government, must be excluded from the operation of the treaty until necessary changes were effected in the municipal administrations at those ports to meet the new situation created by the abolition of extraterritorial rights. The British attitude was Influenced not only by consideration of the chaos which must ensure from any sudden change in the jurisdiction at the ports in question, but also by the fact that other Powers were also concerned. As a way out of the difficulty, the appointment of a special commission was suggested to proceed immediately on the conclusion of the treaty to a study of the whole problem of reserved areas with a view to finding a satisfactory solution. Unfortunately, the Chinese Government was unable to agree, but the British Government had not abandoned hope that, if time is allowed for further discussion, a satisfactory solution of this one outstanding difficulty would be found. He added that as yet he had no official information as to the final position of the negotiations between the Chinese Government and other Powers. He paid a tribute to the devotion and Ability with which Sir Mlles Lampson, British Minister to China, had conducted the long and complicated negotiations. CAPTIVE OR SLAIN British Victims in China REPORT TO PARLIAMENT Official Wireless. Rugby, May 6. Replying to a question in the House of Commons, Mr. Arthur Henderson said that during the last two years fifteen British subjects had been captured in China, all of whom escaped or were released. Eight others had been murdered, and one—namely, Father Tierney, died in captivity. The National Government realised its responsibility for ensuring the adequate protection of British subjects and discharged it as far as it could. Most of the outrages occurred in remote places, where the Government, though it had jurisdiction, did not exercise effective control.