893.00/3820

The Minister in China (Crane) to the Secretary of State

No. 881

Sir: In further reply to the Department’s telegraphic instruction No. 401, of December 29, 1920, 4 p.m.,2 and in confirmation of the Legation’s telegraphic reply No. 12, of January 8, 1921, 3 p.m.,2 [Page 506] relative to the promulgation of a Presidential Mandate creating a “Commission for Preparation of Extraterritorial Abolition”, I have the honor to submit herewith a copy of the original mandate, with translation of same, together with certain information for the consideration of the Department.

The Legation is informed that the Commission was duly appointed following the promulgation of the mandate of November 6, 1920, Wang Ch’ung Hui, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, being appointed as Chairman, and Chang I P’eng, Vice Minister of Justice, as Vice Chairman. The creation of the Commission was in direct answer to the need of a body to consider definite regulations to govern in the cases of Germans and other foreigners to whom extraterritorial jurisdiction did not extend, owing to the absence of treaty provisions, and was also in direct furtherance of China’s demands at the Peace Conference, relative to the abolition of extraterritoriality.

The Foreign Office states that at the present time the Commission is considering general legal matters with particular reference to reform of the judiciary, and while the matter of the abolition of extraterritoriality has not particularly engaged the attention of the Commission, the general trend of the Commission’s activities will be along lines looking to the recovery by China of the jurisdiction now held by treaty powers over their nationals in China.

I have [etc.]

Charles R. Crane
[Enclosure—Translation]

Mandate Issued by President Hsu Shih-ch’ang, November 6, 1920

The Regulations Governing the Commission for the Consideration of Jurisdiction now having been decided upon, public proclamation is made by this Mandate.

Seal of the President

(Signed)

  • Premier—Chin Yun P’eng
  • Minister of Foreign Affairs—Yen Hui Ch’ing
  • Minister of Justice—Tung K’ang

Regulations for the Commission for the Consideration of Jurisdiction

1.
The Commission for the Consideration of Jurisdiction shall consider in reference to preparation for the receiving back of jurisdiction; it shall take necessary steps for this work, as well as make necessary arrangements for the future.
2.
The Commission for the Consideration of Jurisdiction shall consist of a Chairman, a Vice Chairman and 16 members.
3.
The Chairman and Vice Chairman shall be especially appointed by the President (of China).
4.
The members of the commission shall be designated by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Justice, acting together, and shall be selected from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, or other office, from those having expert legal knowledge, or from those officials experienced in diplomatic relations, to act in the capacity (of members of the Commission). Foreigners employed in any Chinese bureaus may also be requested to act as members of the Commission.
5.
The subjects which must be discussed by the members of the Commission are as follows:
1.
Subjects proposed by Minister of Foreign Affairs or Minister of Justice.
2.
Subjects proposed by Chairman of Commission.
3.
Subjects proposed by members of Commission and approved by Chairman of Commission.
6.
If there are subjects which demand special investigation, the Chairman of the Commission may designate certain members of the Commission to investigate.
7.
When the discussion has been closed, a report must be drawn up and submitted to the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Justice, and after approval by them the report may then be promulgated.
8.
The Commission for the Consideration of Jurisdiction may establish a board of directors, the number of which must not exceed five, who receive orders from the Chairman, and who control the preparation of the subjects for discussion and who record the proceedings of the Commission and other matters. The members of the Board of Directors will be chosen from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Ministry of Justice by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Justice.
9.
Neither the Chairman, Vice Chairman, Members, nor Board of Directors of the Commission for the Consideration of Jurisdiction will receive salaries.
10.
The Commission for Consideration of Jurisdiction may hire persons for transcribing and translating documents and for assistance on various matters and advice.
11.
These regulations will go into effect from the day of promulgation.
  1. Not printed.
  2. Not printed.