New-York tribune., 1921-11-24
China Fights
Against Control
By the Powers
witch arc the basis Of the ten Chimes
tconunusd from page sns,

which arc the basis Of the ten Chinese
demands.
1--WE do not understand that the Root
principles imply our acceptance Of the
consortium."' said Or. SEE. "Ths &C.
ceptance of the consortium is yet to be
decided upon"
1T has been explained that the prin-
ciples also imply pooling of railroad
concessions in China, regulation of
their rates and continued control over
the customs" DR.. SEE was told.
Would an agreement by the CON
ference on such foreign control be
accepted by China as affording her
sufficient progress toward the restora-
tion OF her sovereignty"
An expression of incredulity ap-
peared on DR.. SEES face as he turned
toward his questioner. "Who made
any such suggestion Z" he asked.
ut was given out by the spokesma
told.
ut is an unpleasant idea." said DR..
Szc, tapping his Angere on the table
by way of emphasis.
Tariff Yields Only 3.s Per Cent
Dismissing the subject as untenable,
Or. SEE expounded the Importance Of
China's plea before the conference.
been changed since 1912, China, he as
serted, was not able to maintain a mod
ern government because budget which
was possible under tariff put into
effect before the middle Of the last
century was not practicable now. BY
increasing the limitation from to 121a
per cent, China would more than triple
her income from this source, he said,
because the s per cent now yields ner
actually only 3.6 per cent, the differ
ence being due to changes in prices
since the last tariff schedule was
framed.
"The injustice Of the present system
is shown, for instance, In the tariff
on cigarettes" said DR.. SEE. eve are
permitted to charge only per cent ad
valorem on imported cigarettes. where.
as Japan charges $50 per cent or
cigarettes which she importo from us. y
Discussion Of the Chinese tariff
brought before the conference commit
tee the first concrete problem relating
to political conditions in the Far East
Eloquently pleading that tho Chinese
people were facing economic ruin be-
cause Of internal dissentons and un-
supportable foreign control, DR.. Koc
limitation as the first move iowa ard
restoring his country's finances. His
reasons were:
"The existing customs regime In
China constitutes an infringement OF
China's sovereign right to fix The
tariff rates at her own discretion.
China Put at Disadvantage
"It deprives China of the power tc
make reciprocity ARRANGEMENTS with
the foreign powers. While all foreign
goods imported into China pay only
s per cent, Chinese goods exported ia
foreign countries have to pay duties OF
maximum rate.
cit constitutes serious impediment
to the economic development Of China
GAS the system now stands, there ia
only one uniform rate and no differen.
tiation Of rates. The disadvantage is
obvious because it does not take into
account the economic and social needs
Of the Chinese people. China is In
need of machinery and metals, or
which China would like to impose a
tariff rate even lower than the s per
cent. For luxuries, such as cigars and
cigarettes, they ought to pay heavy
taxes perhaps in order to prevent their
injurious effects upon the morals and
social habits of the people. AS it
stands, therefore, the Chinese tariff is
not scientific at all.
"The present tariff has occasioned q
serious loss Of revenue upon the Chi
nese exchequer.
"The present regime makes it exceed