New-York tribune., 1921-11-24
DIR. Koo Claims Right to
Levy Tariff Up to l21z
Per Cent, All Restric-
lions To Be OFF Later
Issue Is Made on
Consortiun Plan
Full Autonomy Based ON
Open Door and Terrific.
rial Integrity Demanded
BY Thomas Steep

WASHINGTON, Nov. 23.- Souarely
before the Washington conference dele
gates there was laid to-day the oues-
tion whether the policies Of the open
door and territorial integrity for China
Is to give her absolute sovereignty
or Is to result in joint control by
all the powers Of her vital interests.
China, relying on the support Of the
United States, emphasized her disap-
proval Of any suggestion that the poll
cies were to be construed otherwise
than literally.
Her protest emanated from the
Chinese delegates led by DIR. Alfred
SEE after the British delegates had
interpreted the four basic principles
adopted by the conference committee
on Pacific and Far Eastern questions
for the settlement of China's ten de-
mands. The Interpretation was that the
interests in China now controlled by
the powers severally shall hereafter be
controlled jointly with equal oppor-
tunity for all nations"
Or. Hoo Makes Three Demands
China's demand for complete tariff
autonomy brought the different views
to light. Supporting her plea that she
be relieved of the 5 per cent limitation
which the powers since 1912 have fixed
as the maximum amount she may col
lect on all imports, DR.. Wellington Koo
outlined three steps which he said
would be essential to pave the way to
complete tariff autonomy. His pro-
posas were:
That beginning January /, 1922,
China be permitted to increase the 5
per cent tariff limitation to 1914 per
cent.
That as soon as practicable, or &C.
cording as China stabilizes her gov
ernment, now split into two republics,
she be permitted to fix her own tariff
rates under maximum limit.
That at later period she be given
her ancient rights of imposing i'm
port and export duties without any
restriction whatever.
Under the four basic principles
framed by Elihu Root, on behalf of the
American delegation, and accepted by
Great Britain, France, Japan, Italy,
| Belgium, Holland and Portugal, the
Chinese delegates contend that the
open door and territorial integrity
policies imply tariff autonomy.
Loans Factor in Situation
Both the Chinese and British views
on the question of China's future were
! expressed in the open conferences ar
ranged for newspaper men. Great
spokesman for the delegation. HI said
the Root principles implied the ac-
ceptance by China of the consortium
of banking groups of various countries,
! which were arranging loans to China
on condition that the investments
were to be subject TO administrative
control during the period of the loans
In addition to the regulation of China's
customs duties, the principles also i'm
piled, he said, pooling of the railroad
concessions in China under an arrange
ment by which passenger and freight
rates would be made equable on all
roads. The British spokesman indi-
Gated that argument along this line
was being presented before the COM
mittee.
"Would foreign control of her rail
roads, her customs duties and her en-
terprises under the consortium mean,
in effect, the internationalism of
China?" the British spokesman was
asked
Nothing of the SORT" he replied.
ut would mean simply that the rail-
roads would be controlled in the in
terest of China, that the banking
groups under the consortium would
have the right to see that the money
put up by them was not diverted to
purposes other than those for which
it was intended, and that the customs
would be controlled in the future as
now, with the exception that China
would be permitted to raise more
revenue"
News Amazes Or. SEE
When this information was placed be-
fore DR.. SEE, head Of the Chinese dele
cation, he expressed amazement that
such a plan had been thought of. His
opinion was that the Root principles
carried no such implication as China's
acceptance of the consortium. He indi-
Gated that the Chinese delegates were
prepared to insist before the conference
on literal application of the open
door and territorial integrity policies
CONTINUED ON next paso)