The Washington times., 1921-11-28
FARLEY OUT To
EXPLOIT CHINA,
SAYS H|ST0R|AN
Knights of Columbus Writer
Sees Attempt to Saddle ORR
entails With Huge Debt.

entails With Huge Debt.
Decentralization OF China to ia.
cilitate the economic exploitation of
its vast resources and 400 100000 in
habitants is the ultimate aim Of some
of the powers gathered at the Wash
ington conference, Edward +. Nc
Sweeney declares in the latest ar
ticle in the Knights of Columbus Sc
ries on History in the Making"
which was issued today.
l. I'm reviewing the case Of China at
| this date" he says, ''it is necessary
to keep three things in mind: Firstly,
great deal OF nonsense and prOpa-
ganda has been written on this sub
ject; secondly. the great powers do
not intend re-establishing at this time
and of their own free will, an auton-
omous China, and, thirdly. China Is
handicapped by the fact that there
are two governments in the country
one in Picking and another in Canton.
Lay Partition Basis.
THE Chinese government repre-
scented at the Conference is in Picking.
Its delegates have gone TO much
trouble trying to prove that they also
represent the Cantonese, advancing
the claim that on the question of
China, as before the Conference. all
public opinion In China is one.
There is no doubt such is really the
case. The trouble is that it will be
hard to convince on this subject mem
bers OF the Conference who do not
want to be convinced. China's future
is less bright than some reports
would have one believe. In fact, II
will take every effort on the part OF
the American people to prevent the
partition OF China. ultimately. That
partition may not be, and probably
will not he projected Immediately.
But the basis for IL Is now being laid
down.
China will not get a new deal.
Historic claims and old policies will
be used to carry through what the
Conference has on it's secret agenda.
In 1S45 the Chinese government
called in Great Britain, France and
the United States to make the gov
erning mandarins OF the provinces
disgorge the customs duties they
were collecting.
By an agreement between Great
Britain, France, the United States, ana
the Picking government nat per
cent customs rate was laid on all I'M
ports The scheme went into opera
ton in 1858, and remains in force to
this very day.
The per cent tax leaves China open
to exploitation, and is not sufficient TO
produce the needed revenues. One has
but to consider the American tariff
to get a complete picture of this.
Business Interests Hungry.
In this connection the hungry eyes
OF big international business interests
are now guided by the convenient ar
rangement that prevailed in pre-war
Turkey, where the public debt was ad-
ministered by representatives of for
eign powers. on the basis that all new
foreign loans made had to be secured
by Turkish revenues.
The Chinese delegation Is opposed
to this. 1t is willing to have the loans
of foreigners secured by certain
revenues being set aside for them, but
il wants to place this ALLEGATION beyond
the control of foreign governments.
Considering that the public debt of
China is the lowest per capita in the
world about 1875, 100000 pounds sterl-
ing as against 5000. 100000 pounds
sterling of Great Britain, there should
be no insurmountable difficulty in the
way Of arriving at an arrangement
edness. 1t is absurd to question
national public debt of slightly less
than $3.50 per capita, or about $40
per wage-earner.
Cupidity Attracted.
1t would seem, however. that II is
the very smallness of the Chinese debt
that is attracting the cupidity of some
members of the Washington Confer
ence. 1t is not at all a question of
fearing the loss of the money loaned.
but entirely one Of making more loans
on the basis of exploitation. China
can easily support foreign loans six
times as great as those already made.
The results of the world war have
been to make Europe and America
undesirable fields for the captains of
capitalism. Returns while large are
insecure and subjects to ever-increas-
ing taxes. China is a veritable Ell
Dorado by comparison.
This was realized quite early by
group known as the consortium. This
group consists of British, French and
American financiers, who have re-
Gently been joined by Japanese inter.
ests.
Consortium Rules.
Clearing the fog of propaganda, one
finds the following situation. Mr..
Roots plan Is an affirmative reply TO
the Chinese ten commandments" On
the surface of things whatever will be
designated as China, will continue a
free and independent nation, but the
consortium Is to remain in control
The plan Of this POOL is such that tire
Decentralization of China would re.
suit from It. That would he the first
step. China would be exploited as n
whole.
There can be no doubt as to the i'm.