Evening star., 1922-01-20

eastern questions, follows:
The twenty-hrst meeting OF the
committee on Pacific and far eastern
questions was held this morning.
January 1s. at II o'clock. in the Pan
American Building.
The chairman {Mr. Hughes) said
the resolution offered by Sir Auck-
land Geddes with relation to railways
in China The resolution was before
the committee in text, he believed. ana
provided broadly against discrlmina-
tion and for the reference OF ques-
tions which might arise to the board
of reference. He assumed that 1t was
not necessary to read 1t.
Sir Auckland Geddes said that the
resolution which he had the honor TO
lay before the committee was, as ne
had stated the day before. rather un-
usual in it's form. In consequence, he
did not move 1t simply as circulated.
What he moved was THAT 1t Is desir-
able that a provision to the following
effect be in the convention on the
open door in China; and then the
text as it stood
Text of Resolution Revised.
On looking over this resolution
carefully, and having had the ad-
delegates present, he had to suggest
that words be inserted in the text
as circulated. in the second line, SO
that 1t should read:
The Chinese government declares
that throughout the whole of the
railways In China it will not exercise,
or permit. any unfair discrimination
of any kind. In particular there shall
be no discrimination whatever, direct
or indirect, in respect of charges or
facilities -" and so on.
In moving this resolution, the Brit
ish empire delegation were. of course.
animated by the desire to make the
open door policy effective. They be-
!ieved that resolution in this sense.
II adopted and approved by the
powers, would go far to make the
open door a reality,
He wished to add there was no sug-
gestion whatever that China's govern
ment policy with regard to the rail-
ways had included any policy of dis
elimination on any ground. He wished
to make that quite clear. and there
fore repeated what he had said yes
terday.
The British empire delegation be-
1ieved that If there were somebody
they suggested the board of reference
before which claims or appeals could
he taken. there would grow up. rapid
ly and effectively, a policy of absolute
fairness and equality with regard to
all transportation facilities on the
railways throughout China.
Board of Reference Favored.
They considered that the board of
reference, which they had proposed
In connection with the general policy
OF the open door, would be the most
satisfactory, the most natural and the
most convenient body before which to
have these cases, if any should arise.
of alleged discrimination investigated
and definitely settled. Accordingly he
had the honor to move: That 1t is
desirable that a provision to the fol-
lowing effect be in the convention on
: the open door in China" Then fol-
flowed the text, with the small amend
ments he had already brought to the
notice of the committee.
Mr.. SEE said that the Chinese dele
cation had noted with great interest
the proposal made by Sir Auckland
Geddes In regard to the first para
graph he desired to say that it had
always been the policy of the Chinese
government-a policy that was well
known and the whole idea Of which
was to develop foreign trade-to
Fgers and to afford them equal treat
ment, and he wished to add that there
had never been single complaint by
any shipper OF unfair treatment or
discrimination. This policy had
was still the wish of the Chimes gov
ernment to foster foreign trade
He noted that while the Chinese
government made a certain declara-
tion in the resolution. the other pow
In regard. to rRsaahfra paragraph , y . he
hoped that there; would be no occa-
sion to resort to II, as all the powers
represented on the committee were
anxious that trade in the far east
should be on q fair and eauita BILE
basis; occasions might, however. arise
when it would prove useful. He sug-
sgested one small amendment-name-
~, the insertfonuE the words "any of
before 'powers.".3
China wantr RATE Control,
He wished toskiention in this con-
nection. in. order; that any possible
future misunderstanding might be
first paragraph of the resolution
.China reserved TO herself the sole
right to classifysthe rates on any of
her railways.
The chairman said he understood
that there was nothing in this reso-
luton which affected the authority to
classify rates.
Mr.. SEE said that he wished to avoid
any question arising in the future and
to assure the continuance of the right
% the Chinese government to classify
railway rates.
sThe chairman explained that it was
understood to be the sense of this res
utlon that there was no impairment
whatever of the power of China to
classlfy rates, subject simply to the
Q2aiincation-with the explanation
tAat IT was not suggested on the basis
that China had hitherto acted in a
difcrimlnating way-that there should
ps. no unfair discrimination of any
khd and particularly no discrimina-
i3n on the basis stated in the reso-
Baron Shidehara inquired if it was
understood that the classifica ton or
1Eelght rates should not be made in
sen way as to entail any discrim-
latlon for or against different gov
eknments or their nationals,
Hhe chairman answered that II was
understood that the classification of
r9tes would not be made in such a
way as to permit any unfair dis
cSimlnation of any kind or, in par
tcular. any discrimination, directly
" indirectly, on the ground Of the ma.
tlpnality of the passengers, the coun-
Ky TO which they We're proceeding. or
tne origin or ownership of goods or
tae country from which or to which
tney were consigned. or the nations
saty or ownership of the ship, etc,
az stated in the resolution
He then asked for further discus
Son on the resolution.
b In Line With Open Door,
Sharon Shidehara stated that the
japanese delegation cordially shared
this resolution; that it was en-
EeIy IN line with the principle of the
4en door in China that was accepted
a. the previous meeting. The word
ing, ne thought, was admirable 1t
gave the Japanese delegation great
pleasure to accept the resolution.
The chairman then put the question
to vote and the resolution was unanf-
mously adopted as follows:
THE Chinese government declares
that throughout the whole of the