Newark post., 1921-11-30
NATIONAL EVENTS
Observations and Comments l0ritten for The Post

what surprised, however, that all the
other nations, including Japan, should
so spontaneously and with such ap-
parent sincerity, express like SYM
pathy, and also a willingness to ac-
cept the Chinese demand as the quite
possible goal which they should help
her attain. Our conception of the
practical changes necessitated by
agreeing in spirit" and "principle" to
Chinese administrative integrity was
still vague.
Japan Has 124 Post Offices IN China
Discussion of the Chinese question
by the subcommittee of the Wash
ington Conference during the past
week has brought clearly to our COM
prehension at least two of the diff
culties with which China has been
struggling in her efforts at effective
home government. The mere state
ment of fact that Japan maintains 124
post offices in China, France main
tains 13, Great Britain ~ and the
United States one, enables us to ina
CINE the mass of complications reach
ing into all fields of Chinese civic life
which would arise from such postal
system. We can appreciate the situa-
tion by trying to figure out our own
difficulties if Russia, Germany and all
the foreign countries having large
groups of residents in the United
States, had established post office sys-
TENS here. China has for years been
trying to bring her own postal system
to an efficiency that would warrant
her demand that the foreign offices be
abolished. The conference sub-com-
mittee has agreed that China should
be freed from foreign postal systems
just as soon as she can handle their
work.
As Many Courts as Nationalities IN
Chinese Cities
The second difficulty with which
! China has been struggling, and which
Americans can appreciate, now that it
has been clearly put before them, is
the existence in her cities of foreign
courts conducted by all the nations
having citizens in China. Rights of
the nations to conduct these courts
have been laid down in treaties. The
Chinese therefore ask that a commits
sion be appointed by the nations 'for
the progressive and ultimate aboli-
ton of the system" In presenting
the arguments for this, DR.. Wang, of
the Chinese delegation, points out that
there are between so and 100 ports
and centers in China where foreign
ers may reside and trade, and in all
Of these growing population over
which China has no control, because
all legal cases relating to them must
be tried in the courts of their owr
nationalities. The interrelation of thu
multiplicity of courts in the same 10
cality gives rise continually to per
plexities which neither the laymel
nor the trained lawyer can untangle
The Chinese have had a commission
at work for seventeen years codify
; ing and developing their laws for tn
purpose of making them adequate t
the needs of all foreigners.
: From the attitude of the sub-com
: mittee considering this problem it
; likely that China's request for join
, commission of the nations to under
f take the elimination of this difficulty
- will be granted. The solution of thes
I two problems alone, the post office
f and the courts, will go far towar
= strengthening Chinese local govern
e ment, and the discussion of these pro
n blems by the nations concerned, il
/ Guiding Japan, which country is in az
f cord with the views of the conferenc
= has given US a new outlook upon tt
o responsibility of the world for th
e far eastern problems, and a bette
e opinion of Japan as future neigl
: Dor and friend both of China and Il
= United States.