Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-01-06
POWERS DRAW
ONE HANDFR0M
CHINA IS POCKET
Supervision of Tariff
Moderated Under Plan
of Arms Conference.
Oriental Republic Gets
A bout $4,000, 900
More of Receipts.

Washington, Jan. 5.-(By the Asso-
ciated Press. THE powers acceded in
part Thursday to China's request that
foreign restrictions on her tariff sys-
TEN be removed and that steps be taken
toward withdrawing foreign troops
from her soil.
Under an agreement adopted in the
far eastern committee Of the arms con
ference, an increase estimated at S46,-
100000 in Chinese customs receipts
is to be granted imm mediately through
modification of existing treaties, and
machinery is to be set in motion for
further increases when they are war
ranted by reforms in Chinese tariff
administration.
BY another resolution adopted, for
eign ambassadors at Peking will confer
with Chinese officials, when China so
requests, relative to execution of the
declared purpose Of the powers to with
draw in cases where conditions make
it practicable.
China Anxious for Full Freedom
Regarding the troop declaration, the
Chinese delegates did not express them
selves at length, but they voiced dis
appointment that the tariff settlement
had not fixed a definite date on whcih
<-4;gn supervision of the Chinese GUS
f>Swould be withdrawn altogether.
- seeting Of the committee, the
u December IA, was devoted
Alton of the tariff and for
proposals, the Chinese find
opportunity to press their re-
mat the ''21 demands contro-
Nse. .Tbe brought into the conference
for review.
Advised to Reduce Army
AS a supplement to the tariff reso-
luton, the special sub committee, head
ed by Senator Underwood. recommend
ed adoption of a declaration advising
China to take Immediate and effective
steps, to reduce her military forces.
Maintenance Of excessive" land arma-
ment, the sub committee held, had Sc
riously impaired Chinese domestic
economy and had become difficult
barrier to the nations restoration to
was referred to draft committee for
revision, but indications at night SEEM
ed to point to its later adoption.
Benefits Pointed Out to China
In presenting the tariff revision plan,
have an reflective" 5 per cent tariff
rate instead of the virtual 31a per cent
in force, Senator Underwood declared
that the new arrangement not only
would greatly benefit China, but would
be long step toward promotion of
general trade and international peace
in the far east.
DIR. Koo, replying for the Chinese,
conceded that the agreement was wal
liable" but added that China could only
regard any continuation of the pres
ent foreign control of her tariff as ian
infringement Of her sovereignty" He
argued also that maintenance Of the
foreign tariff control system meant a
continued handicap to the opening of
China to foreign trade. contributed to
low social and political morale among
the Chinese and worked many injus-
tices through placing the interests of
the several powers above those of the
Chinese republic. It was added that,
in acceding to the present plan. China
especially reserved the right to con-
tinue her efforts for complete tariff
autonomy.
Future Depends on House Cleaning
Senator Underwood then informed
the Chinese that until they had clean
ed house and until further restoration
of the tariff, the powers they had sur
rendered in formal treaties would, in
the view of the other nations. work
to China's detriment and to the in
jury of the world
When China had established par
liamentary governm in all her prov
inces and had dispensed with 'the
military control that now exists in
many parts of the republic he declared.
she might hope to realize the ideals of
sovereignty to which she is aspiring.