CHINA’S MOVE OPPOSED

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 859, 31 December 1929, Page 9

CHINA’S MOVE OPPOSED

FOREIGNERS’ PRIVILEGES ABOLISHED

NATIONS EXCHANGE VIEWS United P.A.—By Telegraph—Copyright Reed. 9.5 a.m. WASHINGTON. Mon. China's final announcement, that the extraterritoriality privileges are to be abolished on January 1, having today 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 bepn an informal exchange of views among all the nations affected. POWERS EMBARRASSED IMPOSSIBLE TO COMPLETE MANDATE FRANCE ANNOYED LONDON, Monday. The “Daily Telegraph’s” diplomatic correspondent says representatives of the Treaty Powers are embarrassed by the renewed threat of the Nanking Government to abolish extraterritorial rights on Wednesday. There is no possibility of their completion in 48 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 message from Paris says France takes strong exception to Nanking’s attempt to x-evolte extraterx-itox-iality by a unilateral act. The Chinese Ambassador has been informed that such action is regarded as a flagrant breach of the treaty of Tientsin. BRITAIN STANDS FIRM. A message says the mandate issued by the Nanking Government means that nationals of Britain, France, Japan, the United States, and other Powers will be subject to the Chinese civil and criminal courts, instead of to the courts established by those Powers. In the case of Britain these rights date from 1842. In l-ecent years the Powers have revealed a readiness to accede to the national aspirations of the Chinese. The memorandum which Sir Austen Chamberlain issued three years ago was an indication of that desire. However, it has been obvious that the full surrender of extraterritorial 1-ights could only be gradual. The l-eminder which the British Government recently handed to the Chinese M.nister in London expressed Britain’s willingness, in conjunction with other interested Powers, to discuss the question of tile removal of these rights, but with the above proviso. It is understood that the attitude of the British Government is unchanged. TREATY WITH BRITAIN CLAUSES NOT DENOUNCED OFFICIALLY British Official Wireless Reed. Noon. RUGBY, Monday. Notwithstanding the mandate issued in Nanking, declaring the abolition of extraterritoriality, the Chinese Government 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 by the Chinese Government. The British Government recently made it clear in an aide memoire to Nanking that it accepted the principle that the gradual abolition of the extraterritorial privileges of British subjects in China should be considered as beginning from January 1 next year, and it is assumed that the Chinese Government is prepared to enter into negotiations with this end in view.