The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-08-18
CHINA SIGNS THE TREATY
IMPORTANT TARIFF CONVEN- TION WITH UNITED STATES.

State Department Notified of the Sucs cessfui Conclusion of Negotiations Extending Over Many Months- Another Victory for the "Open Door'
 Poiicy-A Long Step Toward the open- ing Up of the Vast Markets of China's Anterior.
 Washington, Aug. 1.-The state de- partment has received dispatch from T. S. Sharretts, the treasury expert who was commissioned by the state de- pertinent to negotiate tariff between the United States and China, stating that the treaty was signed on the 18th instant, and that he would sail for the United States on the first steamer.
 The announcement contained in MT. Sharretts' brief dispatch to the state department brings to successful con- clusion negotiations, which have been in progress for many months, for tar- if treaty between China and this coun- try. It was stipulated, as one of the features of the peace agreement be- tween China and the foreign powers at the close of the Boxer outbreak, that an entirely new fabric to trade treaties should be made. This carried out the purpose Secretary Hay had maintained throughout the preceding negotiations for an "open door," the desire being to open up foreign communications with the interior of China and thus gain ac- - cess to the vast markets of the empire. Following the conclusion of the peace arrangements, MT. Sharretts was se- 1ected to carry on the tariff negotia- tions in behalf of the United States. This selection was due to his long fa 1liliarity with tariff affairs, as he had assisted Tn the framing of recent tariff legislation before congress and had also served as one of the general appraisers of New York. He went to China about a year ago and has since been engaged in working out the details of a tariff agreement. It was announced about a
  CTS had concluded tariff treaty with China, and it was understood at that time that the British treaty would serve as basis for similar treaties with the United States and other foreign countries. The state department was advised at the time that the rates on imports entering China were 121s per cent. and the export duties 71a per cent. One of the most important provisions Of the British Chinese treaty was that abolshing the 1ilxin tax. It is presurl1- ed that similar rates hold in the Ameri- can treaty and that the likin tax is abolished as far as it relates to Ameri can goods in transit. The likin tax has been one of the most burdensome exac- tions of the antiquated Chinese system, as it was levied by the officials at vari- otIs points through the interior without uniformity and often with less regard for commercial ends than for the en- richment of interruptions local officials. The abolition of the likin tax will go far toward encouraging foreign trade and tariff in the interior of China.
 MT. sharretts' dispatch is dated at Shanghai and does not go into details TegdTQ1nS LHG treaty ne nus signed.
 London, Aug. 1S-The Shanghai cor respondent of the Times says that the protocol of the tariff treaty was signed yesterday Saturday. by the British, American, German and Japanese rep resentatives, without reservation, and by the Austrian, Belgian and Dutch representatives ad referendum This action, continues the Times correspon- dent, was principally due to the Ameri- can commissioner CT. S. Sharretts) de- string to conclude the business before returning to the United States. The Chinese commissioners, lacking inperf- al sanction. did not sign the protocol; therefore, if China modifies it, the sig natures affixed yesterday will be void The document provides that the new tariff shall become operative Novem- Der 1.
 Portugal, adds the correspondent complicates the situation by claiming a concession of two small islands near Macao and the right to build a railroad from Macao to Canton as 8 duid pro quo for her acceptance of the new tar if. This incident, says the representa- tive of the Times in conclusion, illus trates the difficulty underlying this whole question.
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