CONTROL OF FOREIGNERS

Taranaki Daily News, 31 December 1929, Page 9

CONTROL OF FOREIGNERS

JUDICIAL POWERS IN CHINA

EXTRA- TERRITORIALITY ENDS

EXPLANATION BY NANKING

By Telegraph—Press Assn.— Copyright. Shanghai, Dec. 30.

The Nanking Government’s promised official mandate on.the abolition of ex-tra-territoriality has been released through the Koumin, the official news agency, bearing the stamp of the State Council. The text is:— “Ex parte: For more than 80 years China has been bound to a system of extra-territoriality, preventing the Chinese Government from exercising judicial power over foreigners in its territory, creating defects and disadlantagcs which are unnecessary to the State. Until extra-territoriality it abolished China will be unable to exercise full sovereignty.

‘'Therefore, for the purpose of restoring China’s inherent jurisdictional sovereignty, it is hereby decided and leclared that, on and after January .1, 1030, which is the first day of the first month of the nineteenth year of the Republic, all foreign nationals in €’h?ieso territory now enjoying extra-terri-torial privileges shall abide by the laws, ordinances and regulations duly promulgated by the central and >ocal Governments of China.”

BRITAIN'S POINT OF VIEW.

FULL SURRENDER INOPPORTUNE.

British Official Wireless.

Rec. 5.5 p.m. Rugby, Dec.® 28. The Nanking Government has issued a mandate declaring the abolition of

extra-territorial rights in China .is from January 1. This means that nationals t>f Great Britain, France, Japan, the United States and other Powers will )e subject to Chinese civil and criminal courts instead of to courts established Jiy these Powers. These rights in the ease of Great Britain date from 1842. During recent years the Powers have revealed 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. A memorandum which the British Government recently handed to the Chinese Minister in London expressed British willingness in conjunction with other interested Powers to discuss the question of the removal of these rights, but with the above proviso. It is understood that the a“itudc of the British Government remains unchanged, it being still prepared to discuss the ques- , tion of extra-territoriality with other - interested Powers. THE POWERS EMBARRASSED PARIS EXPRESSES RESENTMENT. RECENT BRITISH ACTION ANNOYS. Bee. 1 a.m. London, Dee. 30. Representatives of the treaty powers ire embarrassed by the renewed threat of the Nanking Government to abolish the extra-territorial rights on Wednesday, states the diplomatic contributor of the Daily Telegraph. Exchanges of views between the treaty powers themselves have remained in abeyance since the recent clash of arms between President Chiang Kai Shek and his rivals and there is no possibility of their completion within 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 extra-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 extra-territorialty by a unilateral act. The Chinese ambassador has been informed that such action is regarded by France as a flagrant breach of tho treaty of Tientsin of 1858.