New-York tribune., 1921-11-26
Chinese Ask
All Legal and
Postal Rights
Continued from page cnc>

respect" said Mr.. Hanihara, because
we, for more than thirty years, suffered
under the same system Of foreign con-
troll up to the time Of the adoption Of
our constitution. Japan has the in
tensest desire that China should be
relieved of all foreign control that can
hinder her aspiration to become pros
perous nation. In the question of the
elimination of foreign postofiices and
extra territoriality, it only remains 10
ascertain whether adequate substitutes
can be provided by the Chinese"
Five reasons were presented by DR..
Wang in support of China's demand to
have extra territoriality abolished. His
reasons were:
ut is II derogation Of China's SOW
creign rights and is regarded by the
Chinese people as national humilia-
tion
at causes multiplicity of courts
in one and the same locality, and inter
relation of such courts has given rise
TO a legal situation which is perplexing,
both to the trained lawyer and to the
iayman.
"a disadvantage arises from the un-
certainty of the law. The general rule
IS that the law to be applied in a given
case is the law of the defendants ma
tionality, so that in a civil litigation
between foreigners Of different nation
alities the rights and the liabilities of
the parties vary according as which one
sues first
"When causes Of action, civil or
criminal, arise in which foreigners are
defendants, 1t is necessary for adjudi-
cation that they shall be carried to the
nearest consular court, which may be
many miles away, and so it often hap
pens that it is practically. Impossible
to obtain the attendance OF the neces-
sary witnesses or to produce other
necessary evidence.
Fifty Treaty Ports New
"Finally, it is a further disadvan-
tage to the Chinese that foreigners in
China, under cover of extraterri--
toriality claim immunity from local
taxes and excises which the Chinese
are required to pay.
"Extraterritoriality in China dates
back almost to the beginning of its
treaty relations with foreign coun-
tries" said DR.. Wang, addressing. the
committee. at was clearly laid down
in the treaty Of 1914 between the
provision has since been inserted in
the treaties with other powers. Extra
territorial rights were granted at a
time when there were only five treaty
ports, that is, places where foreigners
could trade and reside. Now there are
fifty such places and an equal number
of places open to foreign trade on
Cnina's own initiative.
"This means an ever increasing num-
ber of persons within her territory
! over whom she is almost powerless
This condition has become serious
problem with which the local admins
tration is confronted and if the i'm
pairment of the territorial and ad-
ministrative integrity of China is not
to be continued the matter demands
| immediate solution" a5lA
For seventeen years, Dr. Wang said
the Chinese have had com mission al
work codifying their laws with view
20 making them adequate to the need:
Of all foreigners. He said China there
fore asked the powers to relnquist
their extra territorial rights at the enc
of a given period and that commits.
sion. be appointed by the powers for 4
progressive and ultimate abolition OF
the system.
While presenting the demand fol
the abolition Of foreign postoffices, DR.