Evening star., 1922-01-06

present treaty tariff regime Is an i'm
pedimeht to China's economical de-
ve1opment. Under this regime China
enjoys no reciprocity from any Of the
powers with which she stands In
treaty relations. Though every treaty
power enjoys the advantage of having
Its wares imported into China at the
exceptionally low rate OF per cent
ad valorem. the Chinese produce and
merchandise. on entering into any Of
maximum rates leviable, which are. In
some cases. sixty or seventy times
the rate which she herself levies on
foreign imports. The necessity OF
! levying uniform duties imported into
China on all articles. on the other
hand, makes these duties on such ar
ticles as machinery and raw materials
for Chinese industries q handicap to
China's industrial development. At
present there are more than one thou
sand Chinese factories employing for
eign machinery and methods and en-
important industries. To enable them
to live and develop and thereby con-
tribute to the growth Of China's for
eign trade in which all nations are
deeply interested. some latitude is
necessary In the regulation of the Gus
toms duties.
Besides, regulation of China e
tariff by treaty inevitably in the ma
ture of things must work unjustly
and to her great detriment. Thus
whenever China makes a proposal, be
1t for revision of the tariff to bring
J vailing prices or for an increase of
1 the customs duty to meet her in
| creased needs. the unanimous con-
sent OF more than g dozen treaty
powers is necessary. As each coun-
try naturally desires to protect and
t T~I %r4A
ests in China, and as the industries
Of these treaty powers vary in char
acter and export different kinds of
merchandise, they all seek to avoid
the burden Of the new revision or
increased rate falling upon the in
dustries Of their own countries. With
this end in view. different conditions
are not infrequently attached by diff
ferent powers to their consent to
revise the customs tariff or increase
the rate.
Speaks Of Selfish Interests.
Thus. though this matter of Gus
tom tariff is intimately connected
with the wellbeing of the Chinese
state. the interests Of the treaty pow
ers appear to be placed at times be-
fore the legitimate interests OF
China. Under such circumstances the
. difficulty of effecting any adjustment
or arrangement favorable to China
can easily be conceived, ana IL nas
at times been wellnigh insurmounta-
BILE. On one occasion or another
| there is always some power who con-
siders its own interest in the matter
Of Chinese customs tariff more i'm.
portant than the supreme interests
Of China. The experience, Of the
Chinese delegation in the subcommit.
| tee on. tariff, much as it has accom-.
plished, has not altogether removed
| the ground for tVis opinion. But, al
unanimity is required. the dissent OF
one power is sufficient to defeat and
| upset a general arrangement agreed
| to by all the others. while, by virtue
! Of the most favored nation clause, q
concession or privilege granted By
| China to one nation for a specific
consideration, is at once claimed BY
| all. without regard to the quid Pre-
| quo.
In view Of inherent difficulty ant
| injustice OF the present regime, ant
| Of the wholesome and desirable effec
| which restoration of tayiff autonom!
is sure to have upon the trade ant
economic development of China, a.
well as upon the evolution Of her fis
cal system, the Chinese delegation
feel in duty bound to declare tina
though this committee does not Sc,
its way to consider China's claim 70
the restoration Of her tariff autonomy
it is not their desire. in asserting
to the agreement now before you. t