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Historical documents

71 Department of External Affairs to Eggleston

Cablegram SC21 CANBERRA, 5 November 1942

MOST SECRET

Your S.132. Extraterritorial treaty. [1]

1. Minister desires you to negotiate treaty at Chungking and he
wishes you to know you have his complete confidence in respect of
this matter. He desires a short treaty dealing with abrogation of
extraterritorial rights, avoiding the contentious clauses six and
eight of the United Kingdom draft. [2]

2. The views of other Dominions, except New Zealand, indicate they
also will negotiate separate treaty without inclusion of these
clauses. [3]

3. At the same time there should be provision in Australian treaty
for future negotiations without definite time limit for trade
arrangements so important to our respective countries.

4. It is suggested negotiations commence without delay, with view
to simultaneous announcement of U.S.A., United Kingdom and
Australian signatures.

5. As to your question of interpretation Article 1, paragraph 2
[4], it should be made very clear, to remove any doubts, that
British subjects as well as protected persons must belong to
territories in respect of which treaty is made. This point should
be raised with United Kingdom negotiators.

6. You will of course keep us informed of course of conversations
and telegraph your draft texts before final commitments.

7. We are telegraphing London for full powers for you to be sent
direct to Chungking. [5]

1 Dispatched 2 November. On file AA:A981, China 60B, ii.

2 See Document 65, note 4.

3 See cablegrams exchanged between the Commonwealth and Canadian,
N.Z. and South African Govts between 21 and 30 October, all of
which are on the file cited in note 1. The N.Z. Govt (cablegram
298 of 29 October) proposed to abandon its claim to
extraterritorial rights in China by a simple exchange of notes.

4 See the cablegram cited in note 1. The paragraph read: 'In the
present Treaty, the term "Nationals of one (or of the other) high
contracting party" shall in relation to His Majesty the King mean
all British subjects and all British protected persons belonging
to territories to which the present treaty applies.' (See
cablegram D419 of 17 October as amended by unnumbered cablegram of
5 November on file Defence: Special Collection II, bundle 8, China
file no. 1.)
5 See cablegram SL70 of 5 November to Bruce on the file cited in
note 1. Bruce dispatched the Full Power to Eggleston on 25
November (see letter on file AA:A4144, 608 (1942-43)).


[AA:A981, CHINA 60B, ii]
Last Updated: 11 September 2013
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