When the Japanese-Chinese Agreement concerning the rendition of concessions and the relinquishment of extra-territoraial rights in China by Japan was concluded, the Italian Government, manifesting their co-operative attitude toward Japan's policy, promptly expressed their intention of rendering concessions and relinquishing extra-territorial rights held by Italy in China. Now the French Government, which have hitherto held similar intentions, have voluntarily made public their desire to do likewise.
Japan's rendition of concessions and relinquishment of extra-territorial rights were motivated by the sincere desire to remove various restrictions arising from inequality which have for many years past been imposed upon China, thereby to extend co-operation toward the improvement of the political status of that country and, at the same time, to accelerate the establishment of a new and just order in greater East Asia. The fact that the French Government under the leadership of their President, Marshal Petain, have taken this wise decision in response to such intentions held by Japan, is a matter to be sincerely congratulated for the sake of the Republic of China. It also affords equal gratification to Japan which is always solicitous for the progress of the Republic of China.
Following the outbreak of the war of greater East Asia, British concessions were promptly taken over and the Japanese and Italian Governments, one after the other, decided to retrocede their concessions to China. As a result there will no longer exist in the near future any more exclusive foreign concessions. There are still, however, a number of countries holding extra-territorial rights in China, and it is our earnest hope that since Italy and France which held important rights and interests have, in voluntary co-operation with Japan, declared the abolition of their extra-territorial rights, that the other countries whose rights and interests are comparatively small will soon take similar actions on their own accord.