The Washington herald., 1922-01-17

a. That immediate steps be taken
through a special conference to be
composed of representatives of the
contracting powers, and other pow
ers which adhere to this convention.
to prepare the way for the speedy
. abolition of likin and for the full
filImept of the other conditions laid
down in Article VIII of the treaty
of September 5, 1909. between Great
Britain and China, in Articles ~ and
V OF the treaty of October s, 1908.
between the United States and
China, and in Article ! of the sup
Elementary treaty of october s, 1908.
between Japan and China with
view to levying the surtaxes pro-
vided in those articles.
"2. The special conference shall
consider the interim provisions to be
applied prior to the abolition of
lfkin, and the fulfillment of the
other conditions laid down in the
articles of the treaties above men
toned; and It shall authorize the
levying of a surtax on dutiable i'm
ports as from such date, for such
purposes, and subject to such con-
ditions as it may determine.
The surtax shall be at a uniform
rate of 21k per cent ad valorem,
except in the case of certain arti.
cles of luxury which can bear Il
greater increase without unduly i'm
pedlng trade, and upon which the
total surtax shall not exceed 5 per
cent.
Further Revision Provided.
!, "3. That following the immediate
} revision of the customs schedule
of duties on imports into China
there shall be further revision TO
take effect at the expiration OF
four years following the compile
tion OF the aforesaid revision, in
order to ensure that the customs
duties shall correspond to the ad
valorem rates fixed by the special
conference herein provided for.
That following this revision
there shall be periodical revisions
OF the customs schedule OF duties
on imports into China every seven
years for the same purpose, in lieu
of the decennial revision authorized
by existing treaties with China.
That in order to prevent delay.
such periodical revisions shall be
effected in accordance with rules to
be settled by the special conference
mentioned in Article I herein.
- That in all matters relating
to customs duties there shall be
effective equality of treatment and
OF opportunity for all powers par
ties to this convention.
IS That the principle of Uniform
ity in the rates of customs duties
levied at all the land and maritime
frontiers of China is hereby recog-
niLed: that the special conference
, above provided for shall make ar
rangements to give practical effect
to this principle; and it is author
lied to make equitable adjustments
In those cases in which the Gus
toms privilege to be abolished was
granted in return for some local
economic advantage.
In the meantime, any. increase
In the rates OF customs duties re-
sultinS from tariff revision or any
surtax hereafter imposed, in pur-
suance of the present convention,
shall be levied at a uniform rate
ad valorem at all land and maritime
frontiers of China.
&c. That the charge for transit
passes shall be at the rate of 2A
per cent ad yalorem until the ar
j herein come into force.
-. That the powers not signatory
to this convention having govern
ments at present recognized by the
powers represented at this confer
ence. but WHOSE present treaties
with China provide for a tariff on
imports and exports not to exceed
5 per cent Rd valoreDI shall be in
vited to adhere to the present con-
vention.
That the government of the
United States be requested to COM
municate forthwith the terms of
the agreement arrived at With re-
gefd to the Chinese tariff to the
governments of the Powers con-
cerned $ stated in this agreement,
~gith a view TO obtaining their ad-
nerence to the agreement as soon
as possible"
The discussion regarding the
open door" still was in progress
when the committee recessed until
today. The position of the United
States was restated as originally
interpreted by Secretary of State
Hughes in JAy. 1921.
Kisocsow Agreement.
Prior to the meeting of the com |
\ mittee the chinese and Japanese |
delegations reached an understand |
ing concerning the transfer to Chi |
na by Japan of the former leased |
territory of Kiaochow and de-
bated the final ownership of the |
mines. However. all decisions con-
tinue contingent pending a definite |
agreement on the railway situa-
tion. Messrs- Balfour and Root con-
tinue their personal conferences in |
the hope that they may be able to |
get an agreement on this subject, |
having talked things over for half |
an hour following yesterdays
meeting Of the Far Eastern COM |
mittee.
ghe exchanges of opinion con-
cerning the naval treaty are not yet |
Iconcluded. When II will again be |
is not known. While ofri-
YSl4ls resent the suggestion that any
| serious obstacle has developed in |
the discussions there is no doubt
that some rather knotty problems |
have cropped up. Geographical |
| Itfons; the status quo in the Pacific
Sand territorial subdivisions, are
making plenty of trouble and the |
cables are kept occupied in the ef-
tort to get an agreement that will |
be satisfactory to all concerned.
In this connection II was pointed |
but that the original naval agree
nent was one in effect and in no |
yay comprised a legal document
because of this fact, consideration