CHINA NEGOTIATIONS for RelinquiSHMENT BY THe United States and Other POWERS OF EXTRATERRITORIAL RIGHTS IN CHINA-Continued Date and number 1931 Subject Page Mar. 14 Mar. 16 (103) Mar. 16 (14) Mar. 16 (71) From the Chinese Legation Information that the Foreign Ministry is unable to enter into a discussion of points raised in the Chinese statement of February 20 and would like to see the negotiations completed in Washington. To the Minister in China (tel.) Instructions to withhold issuance of the consular circular referred to in Department's No. 92, March 9, or to phrase it so as to avoid a possible interpretation of criticism of Consul Stevens' efforts at Yunnan. To the Consul General at Nanking (tel.) For the Minister: Transmittal of Chinese Legation's memorandum of March 14, with instructions to proceed as outlined in Department's telegram No. 12 of March 14, and to report what transpires upon the delivery to Dr. Wang of Department's statement of March 11. To the Ambassador in Great Britain (tel.) Outline of instructions sent to Lampson by his Government and of Department's instructions to the Minister in China; information that the American Minister is to act in close cooperation but independently of British negotiators. Mar. 17 From the Minister in China (tel.) Mar. 19 Mar. 21 (81) Transmittal, with comments, of the possible wording of Memorandum by the Minister in China of a Conversation With Report of the delivery of Department's statement of March 758 759 759 759 762 770 From the Ambassador in Great Britain (tel.) 771 Transmittal of an informal letter from the British Foreign Office (text printed) indicating Lampson's unexpectedly rapid progress in the negotiations. To the Consul General at Nanking (tel.) 772 Mar. 21 (15) Mar. 24 (16) Mar. 27 For the Minister: Department's comments on the tentative For the Minister: Transmittal of information received from Report of Lampson's progress in the negotiations and his desire to discover how many of the legal guarantees can be disposed of before proceeding to more vital questions. 775 777 CHINA NEGOTIATIONS FOR RELINQUISHMENT BY THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER POWERS OF EXTRATERRITORIAL RIGHTS IN CHINA-Continued Date and number Subject Page 1931 Mar. 28 From the Minister in China (tel.) 778 Transmittal of additional drafts (texts printed) tentatively agreed upon by the British Minister and the Chinese Foreign Minister in their latest conversation. Mar. 28 From the Minister in China (tel.) 782 Mar. 30 Mar. 30 Comments on the tentative drafts transmitted earlier in the day (supra); information that texts have been sent to the British Foreign Office for comment and approval, and that they are, with the exceptions indicated, acceptable to the Chinese. Memorandum by the Minister in China Conversation with Lampson, who related a discussion with Dr. Wang concerning the more vital principles of the negotiations. From the Minister in China (tel.) Opinion of the Minister and Lampson that the latter's conversation with Wang will lead Wang to try to obtain new instructions likely to bear fruit quickly; opinion of the Minister also that any efforts on his part to begin conversations at present might lead to a postponement of action. 784 786 Mar. 30 From the Minister in China (tel.) 787 Information from Foreign Minister that Dr. Wu has been informed of the Wang-Lampson negotiations and has been instructed to press negotiations in Washington. Mar. 31 787 Mar. 31 (18) From the Minister in China (tel.) Information that Lampson has been informed of material 787 For the Minister: Several changes desired by the Department in the drafts discussed in Minister's telegrams of March 28. Apr. 1 Memorandum by the Minister in China 788 Discussion with Lampson concerning the term of validity of the treaty on extraterritoriality and the matter of reserved areas; conclusion as to the latter subject that United States and Great Britain should hold out for the reservation of Tientsin and Shanghai. Apr. 8 789 Apr. 10 Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs Memorandum by Mr. Ransford S. Miller of the Division of Far Discussion, between the British Ambassador, the Secretary, 790 CHINA NEGOTIATIONS FOR RELINQUISHMENT BY THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER POWERS OF EXTRATERRITORIAL RIGHTS IN CHINA-Continued Date and number Subject Page 1931 Apr. 13 Apr. 15 (23) Apr. 17 (25) Apr. 18 Apr. 19 Memorandum by the Minister in China Conversation with the Foreign Minister, who inquired as to the American attitude toward extraterritoriality negotiations and was informed that United States was desirous of reaching an understanding based on gradual relinquishment. To the Consul General at Nanking (tel.) For the Minister: Advice that the views of the Department are in accord with the Minister's remarks made to the British Minister, as set forth in the former's memorandum of April 1. To the Consul General at Nanking (tel.) Information that the 12 articles of the Chinese draft appear substantially acceptable provided that additional articles can be agreed upon later. Memorandum by the Minister in China Conversation with Lampson, who stated that the Chinese Minister in London had been handed an aide-mémoire outlining conditions under which the British Government was prepared to relinquish extraterritorial rights, giving up criminal jurisdiction provided Shanghai, Tientsin, Hankow, and Canton were excluded from the treaty. From the Minister in China (tel.) Transmittal of amendments (texts printed) introduced into the previously prepared texts by agreement between Lampson and Wang. Apr. 19 From the Minister in China (tel.) Transmittal of draft articles (texts printed) covering military service, arrests, and shipping, worked out ad referendum between the British Minister and Dr. Wang, neither being committed to their acceptance. 791 793 794 795 795 797 Apr. 20 From the Minister in China (tel.) 800 Comments on the new drafts and amendments telegraphed to the Department on April 19; further information on status of Lampson-Wang negotiations. Apr. 21 Memorandum by the Minister in China 802 Conversation with the Vice Foreign Minister, who said that Wang was prepared to propose to his Government the exclusion of Shanghai from Chinese jurisdiction, and that if the treaties were not signed by May 5, his Government would unilaterally denounce extraterritoriality. Apr. 21 804 Apr. 22 From the Minister in China (tel.) Information as to French Minister's attitude. Opinion that the proposals advanced so far, plus the exclusion of Shanghai, should be satisfactory to the United States. Memorandum by the Minister in China Conversation with the Vice Foreign Minister, who said that the Commission on Foreign Relations was prepared to consider the request for the exclusion of Shanghai for a limited time. 805 CHINA NEGOTIATIONS for RelinqUISHMENT BY THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER POWERS OF EXTRATERRITORIAL RIGHTS IN CHINA-Continued Date and number Subject Page 1931 Apr. 23 Apr. 23 Apr. 23 Apr. 24 Apr. 25 (27) Apr. 25 (106) Apr. 27 Apr. 27 From the Minister in China (tel.) Comment that the American Minister and Lampson consider the Department's suggested draft of article 9, given in its telegram No. 12, March 14, an excellent substitute for the former draft; Lampson's opinion that the Chinese will yield in the cases of both Shanghai and Tientsin. From the Minister in China (tel.) Receipt from Lampson of information showing the number of the articles so far discussed as agreed upon with Hsu Mo, of the Chinese Foreign Office and list of articles yet to be dealt with. Memorandum by the Minister in China Conversation with the Vice Foreign Minister, who stated that Dr. Wang believed the treaty would be signed within a few days and that the American Minister should make inquiry of the State Department and, if necessary, obtain authorization so that the treaty could be completed in Nanking simultaneously between China, the United States, and Great Britain. From the Minister in China (tel.) Information that the Norwegian Minister has effected an exchange of notes with China giving up extraterritorial rights on a most-favored-nation basis if and when powers participating in the Washington Conference on Pacific affairs relinquish such rights. Understanding that the Netherlands is negotiating for a similar exchange. To the Consul General at Nanking (tel.) For the Minister: Department's willingness to meet China's wishes as to place of signature; opinion that a formal request should be received from the Chinese Government, through Minister Wu, before the issuance of full powers to the Minister in China; that time will be needed to scrutinize text prior to signing. Information that a tentative accord on certain articles has been reached in Washington, and that these texts and others on remaining subjects may be telegraphed soon. To the Ambassador in Great Britain (tel.) Transmittal of portion of Department's telegram No. 27, Memorandum by the Minister in China Conversation with Dr. Wang, who was informed of Department's views concerning place of signature, issuance of full powers, and necessity for adequate scrutinization of the text. From the Minister in China (tel.) Information that Lampson has been informed of Department's attitude as expressed in telegram No. 27 of April 25; account of further discussions between Teichman and Hsu Mo. 806 807 808 809 809 811 811 812 CHINA NEGOTIATIONS FOR RELINQUISHMENT BY THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER POWERS OF EXTRATERRITORIAL RIGHTS IN CHINA-Continued Date and number 1931 Subject Page Apr. 27 Memorandum by Mr. Joseph E. Jacobs of the Division of Far 813 Conversation with the Chinese Minister and the Third Secretary of the Legation, who were handed a new draft regarding extraterritoriality. Undated To the Chinese Legation Apr. 28 Apr. 28 Apr. 29 Text of Department's revised draft of treaty and of exchange Information from Lampson concerning conversation with From the Minister in China (tel.) Information from the British Minister of his present position Memorandum by Mr. Joseph E. Jacobs of the Division of Far Chinese Minister's information that Dr. Wang may be able 815 827 829 831 Undated [Rec'd Apr. 29] From the Chinese Legation 832 Text of the Chinese draft article in regard to the rights of residence and trade. Apr. 30 (110) To the Ambassador in Great Britain (tel.) 832 Desire to know British views concerning Dr. Wang's final terms regarding Shanghai; opinion that the British and American Governments should firmly refuse to be moved from the position taken regarding excluded areas. May 1 Memorandum by the Minister in China 833 Report of a conversation between Lampson and Wang in which the latter was informed that the British found his final offer unacceptable; information that Lampson has proposed further discussions. From the Ambassador in Great Britain (tel.) 834 May 1 (127) May 3 May 4 British inability to consent to fixing a time limit to sur- Inquiry by the French Minister as to the status of the Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs 835 835 |