Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-08-06
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The Nine-Power Treaties.

Formal deposit of ratifications of the
two nine-power treaties relating to
China, negotiated at the Washington
conference, which took place yesterday
a the State Department, carries into
effect agreements which should go far
toward the improvement of conditions
in China.
The negotiation and final ratification
OF these treaties is a diplomatic tri-
lmph for the United States, which for
years has sought TO bring about a
more equitable treatment of the great
Far Eastern nation by the powers. 1t
is regrettable that ratification of the
treaties was not concluded sooner
they were negotiated three and a half
years ago. Had the treaties been in
effect, and steps been taken TO carry
out their provisions, the recent dis
turbances in China might well have
been avoided.
The ratification of the treaties should
make for 4 better era of feeling and
understanding in the Far East. The
Chinese Minister, Sao.ke Alfred SEE,
aptly describes the hoped-for change
in conditions when he says:
Force, intimidation and oppression,
which have hitherto been the wea pons
of the strong against the weak, are TO
give place to reason, cooperation and
good will"
Adherence TO the principles laid
down In the Chinese treaties, Minister
SEE insists, will bring peace and order
in the Far East. The contracting pow.
ers agree to respect the sovereignty
and the territorial and administrative
integrity of China; to provide China
the fullest opportunity to establish a
stable government; to use their in
ffuence to maintain the principle of
the open door in China, and to refrain
from taking advantage of conditions
in China in order to seek special priv.
leges abridging the rights of others.
One Of the two treaties relates particu-
larly to the Chinese customs, and pro-
poses that China shall have the right
to levy customs duties more nearly
adequate to finance a stable govern
ment.
1t behooves the eight powers which
joined with China in the negotiation
and ratification of these treaties now
10 see that they are carried into eff.
feet. A treaty, unless it be lived up
TO in letter and spirit, becomes, indeed,
a. mere scrap of paper" The failure
to abide by international agreements
in the past has led to great disaster.
In the Far East the stage is set for
tremendous strides within the next
half century. Upon the fulflllment of
their pledges by the other nations, and
by China herself, will largely depend
the course in that section Of the world.
A conf1agration there could scarcely,
under present world conditions, fail to
have its effect in Europe and the West.
ern Hemisphere.
The way is opened through the nine
power treaties for active steps to help
China help herself. The powers sigma
tory to these pacts, in addition to
China, are the United States, Belgium,
the British Empire, France, Italy.
Japan, the Netherlands and Portugal.
True, neither Russia nor Germany is
included in the agreements The power
of Germany in the Far East, which
was very great prior to 1914, was
broken during the World War. The
feeling exists that when Russia has
settled down to stable parliamentary
government it, too, will see it's way
clear to join with the other nations in
giving China chance to develop as
she deserves.