Feb. 8.
Two statements, technically known as aides-mémoire, have been addressed by the British' Foreign Office to China within the past five weeks. They define with unsurpassable clarity the British Government's attitude on extraterritoriality and it is of the greatest importance that they should be thoroughly understood and remembered. The first was called forth by the famous Mandate declaring extraterritoriality abolished and was delivered on December 31. The British Government, it said, anxious to meet China's wishes, had "sought to elicit from her' concrete proposals" as a basis of negotiation. The Chinese Government, however, "felt some difficulty in putting forward concrete proposals" and Great Britain therefore suggested discussions with a view to serving "the common purpose" of both Governments. This was last year and "the outbreak of civil war over a wide ares" in the autumn made the proposed discussions impossible. The aides-mémoire emphasize that "no responsibility attaches to (His Majesty's Government) for the political conditions in China" and as a mark of sympathy Great Britain is willing to accept January 1, 1930, "as the date from which the progress of gradual abolition of extraterritoriality should be regarded as having commenced in principle." These concessions, however, are hedged about by certain important stipulations as follows:
"The intricate readjustments that will be necessary, both in the legal and administrative spheres, in a gradual and pro-solution of the problem ritoriality, can only be erected as the result of negoti tions conducted in a friendly and unprejudicial atmosphere.
Chinese Government attack upon the British subjects or the interests which they have built up as a benefit to China as well as themselves in the course of ly aly hundred years, on the faith of solemn treaty stipulations, would confront the British Government, with a serious responsibility, as such an attack would be gravely Prejudicial to the prospects of negotiating a friendly solution of an intricate problem, "The British Government are ready to enter into detailed netion of extraterritoriality effect gradual and progressive stages.'
The italics above are ours. Now, apparently about the beginning of this month, a second - aide-mémoire was handed to China. It refers to the communication of December 81, emphasizing "the great importance which the British Government attach to the considerations set forth" in it, and adding that Great Britain expects the Chinese Government to issue strict orders to its provincial and local officials: that any incident' affecting auc ness of treading on corns, and nationals and violating on" the success he won was not more treaty rights will gravely pre-notable than the new breath of judice the negotiations and will reality and practical senso impose upon us responsibilities which he brought into the dip we shall not ignore." Now the plomatic atmosphere. That is what British community of Shangh is wanted in China to-day wit in general, and perhaps thi in the liberal but none the lo paper in particular, are some-explicit terms of Mr. Hender-times accused of secking to son's aides-mémoire, There is thwart and obstruct Foreign often much to be said for the Office policy in China. But we methods of the "Squirradical" think our readers will agree that in "The Wrong Box," who was their only desire, we are temptd given to expressing himself "in to add their only hope, row is language which would have been that that policy should be carried deemed intemperate on board a out as defined in these aides-pirate ship." mémoire. The consistency of the Foreign Office's attitude over more than two years may
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.