Evening star., 1942-10-10
j. ). and britainto 10 End
All Extra-Territoria|
Privileges in China
Move to Abolish Old
Concessions Praised BY
Ambassador Wei Here

The United States and Great
Britain, in a move hailed as a prac-
tical demonstration of United States
aims for equality of right among all
countries, have started proceedings
for prompt REIMBURSEMENT of their
extra territorial rights in China.
simultaneously announcements
in Washington and London last
night that the two governments are
prepared for early negotiations
with China to abolish the privileges
held for nearly a century were
timed to coincide with the 31st an
niversary today of the revolution
by which China became a republic
The State Department announced
here that Acting Secretary of State
Welles had informed Chinese Am
bassador Wei Tao-ming that the
United States expects to offer for
China's consideration in "the near
future" draft treaty doing away
with the special foreign courts and
other concessions which Chinese
long have felt impinged on their
sovereignty.
Move Lauded by Ambassador.
Ambassador Wei said this move
to end an "out-dated and outworn
system would greatly encourage
the Chinese people in their fight
for freedom and provide definite
assurance to all freedom loving
peoples of the world that the efforts
OF the United Nations are directed
toward achieving political freedom
everywhere and equality of rights
among all nations"
In Chungking the American and
British announcements were ac-
claimed as gestures of friendship
and good will likely to strengthen
the bonds between China and her
allies and stimulate her war effort.
Abolition of the system of special
rights, under which foreign govern
ments have maintained their own
courts in China for handling Grim
lnal and civil cases involving their
citizens, and exercised other privi-
leges such as garrisoning troops on
Chinese soil, has been one of the
principal aims of Nationalist China
since the 1911 revolution.
The United States began tentative
discussions looking toward relin-
quishment of its special rights in
the late l920s, but these efforts were
interrupted by the japanese aggres-
sion in China. This Government
has had the matter under active
consideration again for the last sew
eral months, officials said.
Details Are Withheld.
The State Department carefully
refrained from specifying details of
what the proposed new treaty may
accomplish. Its announcement said
merely that Mr.. Welles had informed
the Ambassador that the United
States "is prepared promptly to ne
gotiate" a treaty providing for the
immediate REIMBURSEMENT of this
country's extra territorial rights in
China and for the settlement of re-
lated questions"
Meanwhile, President Roosevelt
sent congratulatory message to
Chairman Lin Sen of the Chinese
National Government on the ami
versary of China's becoming a re-
public. in which he said:
During the past year the bonds
of friendship which long and hap
PLY have existed between our peoples
have been welded even stronger in
a common struggle against preda-
tory enemies who are attempting to
stamp out the freedom which your
country and mine so greatly cherish.
This anniversary affords us oc-
casion to re-emphasize our deter
mination to press forward until the
cause of freedom shall be victorious" :"