The New York herald., 1922-01-06
PLAN TO WITHDRAW
TROOPS FROM China
They Will Go When She
Proves Aliens and Property
Will Be Guarded.
ADVICE FROM UNDERWOOD
Says China Must Cut Down
Her Armies and Clean House
to Get More Help.

WA5HlNGTON, Jan. tASSOclateQ
Press).-The nine Powers in confer
ence here acceded in part to-day to
China's request that foreign restric-
tions on her tariff system be removed
and that steps be taken toward with
drawal Of foreign troops from her soil.
Under an agreement adopted in the
Far Eastern committee Of the arms
conference an increase estimated at
$46,000.oo0 in Chinese customs re-
ceipts Is to be granted Immediately
through modification Of existing
treaties and machinery Is to be set in
motion for further increases when
they are warranted by reforms in
Chinese tariff administration.
+" BY another resolution adopted at the
same meeting the foreign Ambas-
sadors at Pekin will confer with
Chinese officials. whenever China so
requests, relative to execution Of the
declared purpose of the Powers to
withdraw their troops in each case
where conditions make 1t practicable.
Regarding the troop declaration the
Chinese delegates did not express them
selves at any length, but they voiced
disappointment that the tariff settle
ment had not fixed a definite date on
which foreign supervision OF the Chi
nese customs would be Withdrawn alto
sether. Complete tariff autonomy has
been held by them 10 DC essential to
Chiun's commercial development. just
ss withdrawal Of foreign trool,s lias
been regarded as necessary 10 restore
China TO full sovereignty.
The entire meeting OF the committee.
the first held since December II, was
devoted TO consideration OF the tariff
and foreign troop proposals, the Chi
nese finding no opportunity to press
their request that the twenty-one de-
mands controversy be brought into the
conference for review The next meet
ing probably will not be held until after
the submarine question. now occupying
the attention of the five major Powers,
has been settled.
Want Armies Cut Down.
As a supplement to the tariff resolu-
ton the special subcommittee headed
BY Senator Underwood o1 the American
delegation recommended TO The full
committee adoption of a declaration adj
vising China to take Immediate and
effective steps" to reduce her military
forces. Maintenance OF excessive" land
armament. the subcommittee held, had
seriously impaired Chinese domestic
economy and had become a diff1cult bar
rier to the nations restoration to fnan-
cial stability. The suggestion was re-
ferred to draft committee for revision.
but Indications tonight seemed 10 point
to its later adoption.
In presenting the tariff revision plan.
under which China Immediately would
have an effective" 5 per cent tariff
rate instead of the virtual ~ per cent.
now in force. Senator Underwood de-
clared the new arrangement not only
would greatly beneit the Chinese Gov
erument and people. but would be
long step toward promotion OF general
trade and international peace In the Far
East.
Dr. Koo. replying for the Chinese.
conceded that the agreement was "vaiu-
able" but added that China could only
regard any continuation OF the present
foreign control OF her tariff as IAN in
fringement OF her sovereignty" He ar
gued also that maintenance OF the Tor
eign tariff control system meant a con-
tinued handicap TO the opening Of China
10 foreign trade, CODtrlnulcu " ~"
social and political morale among the
Chinese, and worked many injustices
through placing the interests of the sew
erai Powers above those of the Chi
nese Republic. II was added that in ac-
ceding 10 the present plan China OK
pressly reserved the right TO continue
her effort for complete teriff autonon..
To this Senator Underwood replied ~
plainspoken fashion. informing the chi
nese that until they had cleaned house
any further restoration OF the tariff
powers they had surrendered in formal
treaties would. In the view OF the other
nations. work TO Chinas detriment and
TO the injury OF the world"
When China had established parlia-
mentary government In all her provinces
and had dispensed with "the military
control that now exists In many parts
Of the republic. he declared. she might
hope 20 realize the Ideals OF sovereignty
TO which she Is aspiring.
In detail the tariff agreement pro-
,ides "A commission is 10 meet at once
in Shanghai 10 make an Item by item