793.003 C 73/120
The Chinese Legation to the Department of State
Memorandum
With reference to the time for the meeting of the Extraterritoriality Commission provided for in Resolution V adopted on December 10, 1921, by the Washington Conference on the Limitation of Armament,41 the American Government suggested in November, 1923, to the Powers participating in or adhering to the Resolution that November 1, 1924, should be the date fixed for the convening of the Commission.
The result of the inquiry on the part of the American Government brought out the fact that unanimity with respect to this date could not be obtained, and the Chinese Government was accordingly informed to this effect in the Department’s note of January 18, 1924.42
Ever since the adjournment of the Washington Conference in February, 1922, the Chinese Government has spared no efforts to obtain all available data bearing upon extraterritoriality in China in preparation for the meeting of the Commission. The Chinese Government, therefore, earnestly requests that the American Government approach again all the participating or adhering Powers concerned in regard to the matter and use its powerful influence to secure their unanimous consent for the convening of the Commission on a definite date.
[Page 523]This request of the Chinese Government has been presented to the American Government through the American Minister at Peking.
In connection with this subject the Chinese Government has been informed by the French Minister at Peking that the French Government informed the American Ambassador in Paris to the effect that the consent of the French Government to take part in the Extraterritoriality Commission would be dependent upon the settlement of the question now pending between China and France regarding the payments of the French share of the Boxer indemnity. Now the Boxer indemnity question has no bearing whatever upon matters that concern the Extraterritoriality Commission, and will no doubt be adjusted in due time to the satisfaction of both Governments.
The Chinese Minister begs leave to point out that the position taken by the French Government does not seem to be compatible with the spirit of the Resolution as expressed in the concluding clause thereof.
- Foreign Relations, 1922, vol. i, p. 289.↩
- Not printed.↩