793.003/103: Telegram
The Minister in China (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 23—10:55 a.m.]
413. Supplementing my No. 410, May 22, 4 p.m.
1. At this morning’s meeting of interested diplomatic representatives, British Counselor explained that it is the intention of his government to despatch “in the reasonably near future” its reply to the Chinese note on extraterritoriality and that it suggests that other Governments may wish to adopt its arguments in whole or in part as a model for their replies. Although only French Minister has received instructions to that effect those present indicated a general preference for the draft submitted in my number 368, May 9, 5 p.m. For my own part I consider the British text falls between two stools in that it is too brusque in its conclusion, whereas the general effect conveyed by it is too apologetic. Japanese Chargé d’Affaires had been invited to participate in the discussions in view of the fact that Government maintains its extraterritorial rights and is about to undertake treaty negotiations in which those rights will be questioned by the Chinese. He said he had been authorized by his Government to inform us that it has no definite proposals in the matter since it has intrusted to Yoshizawa60 a wide discretion in dealing with the matter in his treaty negotiations but that in general its position is to insist as a condition precedent to the relinquishment of extraterritoriality either throughout China or in any given territory upon the fulfillment of the recommendations of the Extraterritoriality Commission, particularly upon the freedom of residence and trade in the interior as a right correlative to the surrender of extraterritoriality.
- K. Yoshizawa, Japanese Minister in China.↩