The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-11-23
Celestial Republic Holds
Center of Stage at
Conference.
NAVAL COMMITTEE
TO CONVENE AGAIN
Fleets of France and Italy
Present New Problem
For Members.

N-i4Hd ItLaAil1 lfle center OF INC stage
al the armament conference Her de-
mands that she be assisted in re-
habilitating her depleted finances have
been given precedence over other Dc.
tailed problems of The Far East 4
special committee has been named -
inquire into the exact relief that the
conference may give. To-day that
committee will have placed before il
concrete suggestions. They will in
clude the proposition to allow CHM
complete freedom in fixing her own
customs duties In disregard Of the
existing limitations.
In addition 20 the Chinese problems
the conference today will revert back
20 the naval armament Limitation sub
Ject. The special committee consid-
erinG this problem. made up OF the
delegates from the United StatcS.
Great Britain. France. Japan and
Italy. will meet at 1890 II will
receive report from the navel eA-
perts who have been passing upon
the Hughes proposals This com
mittee viii submit the suggestions
for changes I'm the capital ship al
lotment set forth on behalf Of Japan.
The ship-by-ship and gun-by-gun
analysis will very likely be presented
. saAtN NVAAS 4AFIFu- me GQnlfnlLtee EMTn
Will determine whether the pron1r-
uonate ratio set forth By CHARM
Hughes at the initial session. rar.-
ing the craft that shall be retained
In the event OF an agreement. IS rf
proper one or whether certain s.--
sells shall be added to the list arl
others Of an earlier type consigr s-
! 10 the scrap-heap.
Only a single session OF the "a
! Eastern and Pacific committee Nas
1 held yesterday. After its coneI0-
sion the Official communique was Is-
sued as follows:
The Committee on Pacific and Fsr
Eastern Questions met at the -'an
American Building at II a. m Ali
I the members were present cNcerJi1E
Baron Shidehara and Sicnor Me-
/ The committee discussed the ms ter
OF limitations upon the admins
Z tive autonomy OF China, with par-
I ticular reference to those connect
/ ed with revenue. and on Senator I'm
D derWood's proposal. decided to ap-
point a subcommittee consisting OF
a representative OF each Of the nine
powers for the purpose OF examn-
lnE iacts and stating their conciu-
sions 20 the fun committee. The
subcommittee is to have power 90
80 sun NAHFAA opllllOn as III NAV
desire. The committee adjournad
until , Wednesday afternoon"
Far East Group Meets
. Tho great task OF the suhco
mittee admittedly is 20 break ..a
chains that have bound CHR
finances China has insisted Z
most Of her present plight is due
her obligation that she shall ..r
|
on imports. The Chinese delecatiha-
when it is afforded the opnortur
I today, viii point out that this fig rr
is far too low. II is because
lack OF revenue that China r
been compelled 10 default on g..
terest on part Of her foreign dcrt
and that She is unsbl" 10 dcvei
her immense natural resources
IS confidently expected that
| committee viii agree that the lin
should be removed and that Oh IA
should have the right. within rcs-
son, 10 fix the amount % her duties.
The effect Of this. Chinese officials
have pointed out. would he to i'm
mediat ly place the republic on q
. sound financial basis.
China Files Hul.
The Chinese delegation has e,ed
/ with the committee as proof OF It's
! contention that the existing tariff
I limitation IS unjust a declaration
pointing out that the per cen.
ad valorem limitation was fixed m
1897 and that because OF the in
! crease in prices since then China
/ receives only about per cent The
| total revenue Of China from Gus
toms is less than s55.00O. 600 an
nually and much OF shst is taken
! for foreign loans. The duties COL
lected on the land frontiers arc
lower than the maritime rates un
der the ARRANGEMENTS that were
fost"red by Russia. Japan. Eng
land and France. in addition whsle
! Chinese goods in transit pay tax
] in transit, foreigners pay only a
/ percentage OF the amount so leNioc.
/ These restrictions. tn Chinese S4v.
/ deny self-determination 10 ChIua
and materially interfere with
Chinese industry and commerce.
a uniform rate being fixed fr-
all articles alike" says the Chinese
brief. "a part Of the revenue which
1 might be secured by higher rate
on some commodities is lost whilc
another part which might he OBJ
tanned. il the rate on certain
4 others were reduced. is not forth
/ coming. Tho small return of Gus
toms revenue is in part rcspon-
sible for the slow roorEanizinE Of
! China which IS essential not only
10 the well being Of the 4o0. 900. .o0o
! Of Chinese people. but also 20 the
prosperity OF the world at large.
The poor people whose ability
TO pay is limited. have 20 pay just
as much tax for their necessities
as the rich man who is able aad
/ ought 10 pay more for their
! luNuries This gross injustice. rs-
pectally on tho lAborinC class. de-
pending as they are on necesSitios
for their daily consumption. IL a
| great insult 70 humanity
The low uniform tariff rate
nNed by the treaty makes indus
trial development impossible. For
| the low customs rates. which de-
/ privc China of sufficient revenu'.
! compels the Chinese government to
retain a bad tax on such as lilSin
which Is a great obstacle 70 in
I dustry and commerce. Because of
the existence Of this likin tax.
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