Arizona republican., 1922-01-06
RESTRICTION ON
CHINESE TARIFF
SYSTEM RAISED
BY BIC POWERS
Existing Treaties to Be
Modified Un d er Far
E astern Agreement;
Troops to Be Withdrawn
TRepubIIcan A. p. Leased WIreI

WASHINGTON, Jan. 5.-The pow
ers acceded in part today to China's
request that foreign restrictions on
her tariff system be removed and
that steps be taken toward withdraw
ing foreign troops from her soil.
Under an agreement adopted in
the Far Eastern committee of the
armed conference, an increase esti-
mated at $4,000, 900 in Chinese GUS
toms receipts is to be granted i'm
mediately through modification of
existing treaties, and machinery is
to be set in motion for further in
creases when they are warranted by
reforms in Chinese tariff admins
tration.
BY another resolution adopted,
foreign ambassadors at Peking will
confer with Chinese officials, when
ever China so requests, relative to
execution of the declared purpose of
the powers to withdraw in cases
where conditions make it practicable
Regarding the troop declaration,
the Chinese delegates did not express
themselves at length, but they
voiced disappointment that the tariff
settlement had not fixed a definite
date on which foreign supervision of
the Chinese customs would be with
drawn altogether.
The meetings of the committee, the
first since December II, was devoted
to consideration of the tariff and
foreign troop proposals, the Chinese
finding no opportunity to press their
request that the "21 demands" con-
troversy be brought into the confer
ence for review.
AS a supplement to the tariff reso-
luton, the special sub committee
headed by Senator Underwood, rec
commended adoption of a declaration
advising China to take immediate and
effective steps," to reduce her mill
tary forces. Maintenance of sex
cessive" land armament. the sub
committee held, had seriously inn
paired Chinese domestic economy
and had become a difficult barrier to
the nations restoration to financial
stability. The suggestion was re-
ferred to a draft committee for re-
vision, but indications tonight seemed
TO point to its later adoption.
Promote Far East Peace
In presenting the tariff revision
plan, under which China Immediate
ly would have an effective" five per
cent tariff rate instead of the virtual
315 per cent in force, Senator Under
wood declared, that the new arrange
ment not only would greatly benefit
China, but would be long step to-
ward promotion of general trade and
international peace in the Far East.
DR.. Koo, replying for the Chinese,
conceded that the agreement was
ltYQ o. ht1f aI1
could only regard any continuation
of the present foreign control of her
tariff as IAN infringement of her
sovereignty" He argued also that
maintenance of the foreign tariff
control system meant continued
handicap TO the opening of China to
foreign trade. contributed to low So
cial and political morale among the
Chinese and worked many injustices
through placing the interests of the
several powers above those of the
Chinese republic.
1t was added that in acceding to
the present plan. China especially re-
served the right to continue her ef-
fort for complete tariff autonomy.
Senator Underwood then informed
the Chinese that until they had
cleaned mousse anu until IufIner res
toration of the tariff powers they
had surrendered in formal treaties
would, in the view of the other ma
tions, work to China's detriment and
to the injury of the world"
When China had established a
parliamentary government in all her
provinces and has dispensed with
"the military control that now exists"
in many parts of the republic, he de-
clared, she might hope to realize the
ideals of sovereignty to which she is
aspiring.