Norwich bulletin., 1921-12-13


called, is a more or less vague term which
implies that the powers making such
claims in China are entitled within their
respective spheres to enjoy reserved,
preferential, exclusive or special rights
and privileges of trade, investment and
for other purposes.
Germany was the first to claim a sphere
of influence or of interest in its crystaiiz-
ed form of the province of Shantung; lat
err the other powers made similar claims
over other portions Of the territory OF
China
These claims are either based on agree
ments between the powers themselves
to which China is not party, such as
the agreemnt of September 2, 1898 rela-
tive to railway construction concluded be
tween British and German banking
groups and sanctioned by their respective
governments or based on treaties or
agreements made with China under cir
cumstances precluding the free exercise
Of her will ,ushc as the convention With
Germany for a lease of Kiaochow of
March 6, 1898, and the treaties and notes
of May rs, 1915, made with Japan in con-
sequence of the 1atter's twenty-one de-
mands on China.
divided into different spheres of interest
| is most unfortunate state of affairs
| In the first place, these spheres of i1qte-
rest seriously hamper the economic de-
velopnent of China. The powers claim
| ing these spheres seem to take the view
| that certain portions of China's erriory
| are reserved for their exclusive explolta-
ton without regard to the economic needs
| of the Chinese people
| There have been instances where a
nation is unwilling or unable to finance
I sy.d Y-ef1
allow it to be financed or carried out by
other nations
| In thu second place. the whole system Is
contrary to the policy Of eual opportunity
for the commerce and industry of all ma
tions-a policy which, SO far as the COM
mon interests of the powers are concern
ed is fair and equitable and which has
ibeen adopted by this committee.
A further objection to the pheres of in
terest is that there has been tendency,
under cover of economic claims, to further
political ends, thus threatening the 30
liitical integrity of China an dgiging rise
to International jealousy or friction
It is gratifying to knew that the Unitet
States and Great Britain have placed
themselves strongly on record as oppose;
to the continuance of spheres of interes
/ in China. At the last meeting Mr.. Bal
four was good enough to say that spheres
Of interest in China is thing of tn,
past.
The claim by the powers to spheres o
interest have given rise to much misun
Iderstanding and misgivings on the part o:
the Chinese people, and in view OF tn
considerations which I have just advanc
ed, the Chinese delegation asks that til.
powers represented in this conference dis
avcw all claims to a. sphere or spheres 0
| i,,fo sci
terests within the territory Of China
Mr.. Hughes than stated that he desire
to announces an important matter to tn
committee although it was outside tn
proceedings of the conference It was
=. matter that had almost been conclude
before the conference convened He wa
happy to state that 1t had now bee
completely settled and an agreemen
reached between the United States an
Japan. He referred to the matter 9
zap and the inundated islands north G
the euator. A convention would be IN
in final shape and signed by the tw
l governments shortly
! Mr.. Hughes remarked that it was. wit
5 the greatest regret that he must no,
r lspeak of the subject of Mr.. Vivianiss d.
r parture- He will at the same tina /
$ express a final appreciation of his CO
| laboratfon and voice the sorrow that i
himself and all his colleagues must fe
: at their loss Th'e vas nreeted with az
+ lproval by all the . present. M
h Vivianf replied thu he had been muc
/ touched by the words of the chairman
e that the date of his departure had bee
. fixed before he left. France he had bee
! absent five months out of nine on dutit
k that took him from Geneva to Washin,
: ton and it was absolutely necessary th;
!. he now ret6rn He added that his regr
d lat leaving was tenpred by the fact tn;
: his mandate would be left in the GOO
: hand Of NJ Sarrant.
The committee then adjourned to me,
r Wednesday next, December II, 1921,
$ II o'clock a. m.