Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-04-04
NATIVE OF CHINA FAILS
TO GET COURT JUSTICE
a Eastern Republic Chatting
Under Foreign Extra Terri
%toriality Ignominy.
by JOSEPH o

SHANGHAI. April 3.-Extra-torri-
toriality is getting to DC a cause OF
much friction in Chinn. II VIII be n
delicate problem for foreign Legations
from now on.
Tho awakening" middle classes.
led by the student movement and
comprising merchants. gentry and the
educated nonolicial classes gencr-
ally. are chaiing under this igncminy.
Thcy plan to deprive The Germans
OF eHtraterritoriality when relations
are resumed.
'EHtratcrritoriality" was. set up by
h foreign powers for the protection
OF their nationals against irregulari-
ties OF the old Chinese courts. These
courts stu have not improved very
inuch except as here and there they
arc presided over by forcign-traincd
Dur!sts. ~ "cXtratcrritoriality'I a
foreigner carries into Chinese terri
tory the light to be tried by a court
Of his own country, generally a con-
auiar agent. These may by right be
located only In the settlements" or
treaty ports"
Jnps Cause Irritation.
Two abuses have irritatcd the
Chinese. First. the Japanese nave
forced trial by their own consular
agents in scores OF places not opened
TO settlement" Of foreigners: prhc-
ticaily nowhere in his own country
can Il Chinese get 4 fair SNOW IN AN?
.iril or criminal matter II wniicn 4
Japanese is involved.
Secondly. in the international set
t!cfnent' at Shanghai civil and Grim
inal cases involving foreigners are
tried in tho mixed court y Chinese
magistrate sits with a Judge Of the
nation OF which the foreign ,Iiigaut IS
Il citizen.
Strip Judges of Power.
Originally the Chinese magistrate
rad the power and tho foreign mag
nitrate sat as adviser. But during
tho Irregular period At the time of
the revolution the Chinese masis-
iratc was deprived OF power ny sue
ccssivc rules adopted. Wits goou rr.i-
son. lie continues to be a sIicnt
fisurchead.
Tho foreign "asscssors' or mugls-
trates s!ttin5 ia the mixed courts arc
not on the average very iigh-class
Juris;S Most OF them Know little
law. The: arc apt to he ..,D,,rniy
and there ~ much crookc!ncss in the
police department. The chinese
claim they get scant justice. Worse.
there is no appeal from the decisions
Of this court. The Chinese know
this IS no, Ansio-Saxon justice.
All treaties with Germany having
been Aggregated ny hinas declaration
OF war '.hina has the opportunity 10
deal with this problem on her own
terms. h Z erfndns must come win
nat III hand C.tryirg TO regain then
rlace in the favor OF the Chinese.
They cannot very well insis, on extrn
tcrritorial!ty. They may very readily
waive the right, as a hid for popu
iarity. And il Germans get along
without II, that viii De a strong arsu-
mcnt why others should.
Willy Trick f:apccted.
Japan. on her part. may turn a
Willy trick in connection with negu-
iiatIons concerning T%singtao and
Shantuns. II is rumored that she
VIII propose tho establishment 81 an
international settlement at TsinG.ao
IN which there Will be no extra terri
toriailty and in which the Chinese
Will have full participation with tho
Foreigners in tho local government.
But this international settlement.
VIII not include the rea! TSing,ao, The
harbor proper. railway terminal and
the industrial district lying along the
waterfront and the railway. RIA is