New-York tribune., 1921-12-14
Annual Parleys
Suggested for
Asiatic Treaty
Conferences To Be Held i'm
Washington, Toxic or Pc
king Contemplated to
Work Out Peace Program
China Asks Membership
System Expected to Settle
All Controversies That
May Arise i'm Far East
By Thomas Steep

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13.-Provision
for holding international conferences
annually either in Washington, Toxic
or Peking to insure permanent peace
in the Far East, it was learned to-day.
is contemplated in connection with the
nlne-power agreement which Secretary
Hughes suggests as appropriate for
settling China's problems. The con-
ferences would deal specifically with
Chinese reforms. such as tariff revi-
sion, abolition of extraterritorial priv
ileges, withdrawal of foreign troops
and postoffices and Improvement of
finance. but the ultimate object, after
China has been put on her feet, would
be to extend international arbitration
over the greater part of Asia, includ-
ing Siberia.
The presentation to the armament
limitation conference a. an early date
of nine-power agreement, to apply to
Asia IN the same way as the four
power treaty signed to-day applies to
the islands of the Pacific, is now said
to be assured. With Secretary Hughes
as its sponsor, the American delega-
ton, backed by the British, is known
strongly to favor general Asiatic
agreement. The Japanese delegates
have referred tentative proposal to
the Toxic government, with view, it
is learned. of ascertaining how such a
covenant might affect the status quo
OF Japan's holdings in Manchuria. Mon
golla and other parts of China. Tho
Chlnese delegates likewise are endeav
orlng to have an unde erstanding reached
on the status quo as precedent to
any Asiatic agreement to which China
is to be a party.
Deal With All Controversies
But these are regarded as details
susceptible or easy adjustment "The
nlne power agreement on China's prob
lems' but also relating to Asia in gem
eral, will be presented before the con
ference without a doubt" said a
spokesman for the American delcoa~
ton. at will be just as important
IN its relation to Asia as the four
power treaty is in relation to the
Pacific Ocean. for it will have to do
not only with the reconstruction of
China, but afterwards with all CON
troversies arising in the Far East"
Along with the terms of the pro
posed new agreement plans are being
formulated for holding annual con-
ferences. 1t is asserted that many of
Chinas problems cannot possibly be
settled at the present conference.
Questions involved in revision of the
Chinese tariff alone are sufficient to
require investigation which may ex-
tend over year. The present Chinese
import duties are limited by the pow
ers to per cent. 1t is the same tariff
schedule that has been in force since
1892. China wants the limitation
raised to 121s per cent. Japan wants
it kept at ia maximum. The CON
ference proposes to raise the tariff
sufficiently to yield adequate revenues.
There is what is known in China as
likin tax, or tax collected by each
of the eighteen provinces. This is said
to be so heavy in some cases as to be
prohibitive against the importation of
foreign goods, particularly Japanese
manufactured articles. The likin, said
to be the chief source of revenue of
various bandit chiefs. is to be abolished
in exchange for a higher import tax.
Another issue which it is said, as
sures future conferences, probably to
be held on Chinese soil, relates to
tcentinusd on next pase)