Evening star., 1925-09-22
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL ]. COLLINS.

Chinese culture rests upon a belief
in the power and appeal of moral
force The entire body of Confucian
teaching centers around that concep-
tion. We hold material force so
meanly that the soldier is the lowest
order in our social hierarchy. And
this Chinese valuation will remain
unchanged so long as the Chinese
people are allowed to progress and
develop along the lines of their own
national genius
There were some listeners who read
into these words of peace so long as
the Chinese people are allowed TO
progress an implied hint as TO
what might happen If the Chinese be-
lieved that they were not to be per
mitted to mature Chinese develop
ment of China" They quoted the
words of Napoleon Bonaparte: When
China moves she will move The
world. China, with her 400 1000, 900
people.
1t will be recalled that at the time
of the Washington conference of the
nine treaty powers, September g. an
| identical note" was sent to China BY
ness TO modify the extraterrit oria lity
treaties as soon as China could give
evidence of the power of her central
government TO protect foreigners
As to The tariffs, the identical note
cited that the limitation of tariffs has
been in effect since 1912, being agreed
to in order to put a stop to the uncef-
tainty of tariffs fixed after shipments
had arrived-fixed at the whirn of Off
tn q
ers. Since 1902 the United States and
the others of the nine powers have
watched every evidence of Chinese re
form which could be taken as assur-
ance that the old cause of interna-
tional friction need be no longer fear
ed. and that the conventional tariff
could be abandoned. A commission is
to be appointed by the nine powers to
investigate conditions in China which
may Justify steps to meet the desires
of the Chinese government.
* \
In his speech before the Baltimore
conference Secretary of State kellogg
called attention TO the fact that the
commission would have met in China
in 1922 to investigate conditions on
which to base a revision of treaties
but il was postponed a year. at the
request of China; since then the pow
ers could not agree as to a date. The
meeting has now been arranged and
will open October IS in Peking. This
Government is ready to consider with
China comprehensive revision of the
tariff.
Our relinquishing eXtraterritorial
rights depends upon Chinas demon
Strating her power to protect our citi-
Zens. Secretary Kellogg. in his speech.
called attention to the fact that within
the last few months there had been
riots and anti-foreign demonstra tions
which have caused loss of life, not
only of foreigners but of Chinese. and
the powers have been compelled to
protect their nationals by armed force.
There has been recurrence of anti
foreign demonstrations such as has
not existed since the Boxer rebellion.
Mr.. Kellogg added:
Il am very sure that the people Of
the United States do not wish to con
troll, by treaty or otherwise, the inter
; nal policies of China, to fix its tariffs
or to establish and administer courts.
but that they look forward to the day
when this will not be necessary
* X
The London Times commenting
upon the "identic note" above referred
to, speaks Of general skepticism as to
Its usefulness, and adds: But what
are the alternatives? The troubles
that are damaging British and almost
all other foreign interests are the va
rious manifestations of a growing Chi
nese national consciousness, fostered
for their own unscrupulous ends by the
bolshevist agitators. This growing and
defiant nationalism has assumed a
particular anti-British nature, under
the same malignant guidance of Mos
COW, which sees in the British Empire
the most solid bulwark against its
crazy scheme of world revolution
Merchants and missionaries alike tss-
tify that the native movement is not
eeonomie-as the occasion of its out
break suggested-but social and po
1itical."
The Times claims that the special
advantages gained by foreigners half
century ago have brought prosperity
to China, as well as to the foreigners.
but Young China" now believes they
can manage their own affairs. 1t ex-
presses high commentator for Secrs-
tary kellosg's speech at the Baltimore
conference, and general approval OF
American policies in China. ss out.
lined by our Secretary of state.