Evening star., 1920-04-04
JAPANESE AND CHINESE
POLITICAL IDEAS ALIKE
Despite Conflict Between Military and
Civil Elements, They Adhere to
Many Similar Institutions

education of their students in Amer
ica. No single act of any foreign
country has been more helpful to
China.
Methods of taxation are crude. and
customs rates have been fixed at low
figures in the interest of foreign pow
ers. Duties collected are restricted
by treaties to 5 per cent. and until
were the average of the three years
of 1897. 1898 and 1899. When China
declared war against Germany the
Boxer indemnities were suspended
for five years. and in the Following
year a new valuation for imports was
established. based on the average val
ues for the years 1912 to 1916. This
will considerably increase collections
Prior to the readjustment the actual
rate was about per cent.
The debt of China cannot be OBJ
tanned from any official statement
but It approximates s1,000.O0 coo
which would not be a large amount
except for the very faulty system of
taxation which prevails. Under ra-
tional and honestly conducted fiscal
management there would be ample
resources for the support of the gov
ernment.
District Of Government.
ing loans at home. but the moneyed
class among the Chinese so distrust
the government that they are un-
willing to lend to it. They especially
oppose disbursements for the army.
Violent opposition was manifested
against a proposed loan by Chicago
bankers. unless assurance was given
that the proceeds would not be eX-
hausted for military or naval pur-
poses.
In recent years very considerable
loans have been obtained from Japan,
sNr hs, nov nf
concessions have been mortgaged. p
The Chinese have profited. though
in less degree than most other ma
tions outside of the zone Of war, by
the furnishing of supplies to the al
lies. The money. however. does not
go into the banks. 1t is the current
belief that large quantities of goic
and silver are buried or secreted
AS a result of all the discord which
prevails an efficient administrator, II,
impossible. There is no constitution
to determine the relative spheres o.
authority of the president. cabinet
and the parliament. In the north pre-
miers have claimed to be the real
heads of the government. leaving the
president in position analogous 10
that OF the King OF England. In the
time of President Lii the cabinet with
the miIitarists were on one side and
the president and the parliament on
the other.
Various plans have been suggested
for the solution of the problem. one
ma tions. another a protectorate by a
single nation. To both these plans
there is the objection that Jeaiousies
and conflicting interests would rem
der agreement difficult, If not lmpos- pos
sible. Then there is the more sub
stantial objection that eventually
every nation must work out it's own
salvation Foreign observers almost
unanimously concur in the opinion
that a monarchy is best suited for
China. but the forces which promise
better future are so centered about
the republic that a reversion to any
thing similar to the old order of
things seems altogether undesirable
Not Field for Exploitation.
One essential for the rehabilitation
OF China is that it shall no longer be
regarded as field for exploitation by
tory, and in mining, and in trade
have been obtained. and the loans
obtained from foreign countries have
been used not merely for the sake OF
gaining commercial advantages. such
as by provision that material for
railways built shall be obtained from
the country making the loan, but
important political advantages have
been sought. Control OF railways has
been secured SO that invading armies
may enter the country.
There are signs OF a hopeful reac-
ton against these methods. In a con-
ference of representatives from Brit
ish chambers OF commerce in China
minister. Sir John Jordan. was pres
ent, the following resolution was
adopted:
ion that the time has come when the
policy of the open door should be re-
fol .t.1
principle and that it's reaff1rmation be
accompanied by an international
agreement for the abolition of
spheres of influence"
The conference passed a resolution
asking for the development of the
Chinese railway system under efficient
mana cement and went on record in
favor of the establishment OF a uni
form currency.
Rates of Exchange.
At present rates of exchange even
as high as Is per cent prevail be-
tween different cities of China. much
to the annoyance of the foreign visi-
tor. The conference expressed sym
pathy with the desire of Chinese for
the abolition of extra-territorial juris
diction, under which foreign countries
decide controversies in which their
own nationals are involved. This
right belongs to all the leading pow
ers having treaties with China, but
the conference also recognized that
Chinese laws and methods of admin
istration must be reformed before
this jurisdiction could be abolished.
The abolition of the so-called likin,
or local taxes on the transport of
goods. a serious handicap upon trade,
was recommended, and the attention
OF the Chinese government was ur-
gently directed to the necessity for
the suppression OF piracy and law
lessness. which exist in many prov
inces.
The events of few months or
Years must determine whether there
shall be further progress in the dis
memberment of China and her sub
lection to other countries. The peo
Pile of the United States have a re-
sponsibility which they must face. The
hopes of the Chinese go out to US,
but they fear that we will take no
effective steps to aid them.
If our sympathies are not as much
aroused by pathetic conditions in
China as by those in Europe, it is not
because the reasons do not exist, but
rather because that country is more
remote and less akin to US. Our policy
should be to insist upon the rigid en-
forcement in the orient of the same
principles of right and Justice as
those for which we waged war against
Germany.
ORDERS COTTON INQUIRY.