Evening star., 1925-07-19
PANACEA FOR CHINA.
SEEN IN ARMS PACT.
U. S. Policy Is Enforcement
of Washington Treaty Terms
at Early Date.
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
REORGANIZATION of the Washington
conference commitments regarding
China in the light Of present condi-
tions in that country and the continu-
ing efforts of the Washington admin
istration to give effect to those com
mitments through inauguration OF the
customs commission and the extra
territorial inquiry, throws into sharp
relief the broad basis worked out here
in 1921 upon which TO found per
manent solution of the Chinese
problem for all signatory or adhering
powers.
The Washington policy turns on the
effort to convince other governments
that recent disturbances in China are
merely symptomatic of the same gen
orally unsatisfactory relationships
with that country which the Wash
ington conference recognized and pro-
posed to remedy.
Desirability of Pact.
1t is held here that the Shanghai,
Canton and similar incidents only
serve to impress upon officials the
desirability of getting the Washing
ton conference machinery to work as
soon as possible TO assist China in the
establishment of a strong central gov
ernment to which foreign nationals
could look with assurance of protec-
ton in their legitimate commercial
and other enterprises there.
Recent developments in London and
Paris as well as Toxic have indicated
that there is substantial agreement to
set up with little delay the customs
commission provided for by the nine
power treaty. The American pro-
posal to inaugurate simultaneously
the extra territorial inquiry commits
sion still awaits a definite answer
from any of the II powers TO which
it has been communicated. AT the
moment difficulties In the way OF
working out a program for settlement
of the local Shanghai case and the
Canton matter appear TO be holding
up final answers from London ana
Paris on the wider and more far
reaching policy President Coolidge has
indorsed and is pressing.
The China commitments were all in
the form Of conference resolutions
when adopted. 1t was recognized and
carefully explained by Secretary
Hughes, as chairman OF the confer.
ence, however, that the customs re-
vision program required legislative
sanction by each government involved,
as the revision commission would have
plenary powers to work out details
within the provisions adopted by the
conference. The costoms resolutions
were therefore drafted in treaty form
and that treaty now has been ratified
by all signatory powers.
Provides Import Duty.
II is the keystone of the Chinese re-
adjustment planned by the conference,
because 1t affords the method by which
revenues would be provided with
which a strong central government
might be set up and maintained. IL
provides that the Peking government
ultimately receive a per cent al
valorem duty on imports, the customs
collections to remain in the hands or
the international commission which
now receives and turns over at Peking
funds derived from import duties. Al
present the customs duties are the
only revenues TO which 1t is entitled
by the Chinese constitution that reach
the Peking government on 100 per
cent basis, and even these funds are
obligated in advance against such
claims by foreigners or foreign gov
ernments as the Boxer indemnlties.
1t was realized, however, that the
establishment of the 5 per cent rate
as a measure of financial relief for the
Chinese government would take con-
siderable time in the adjustment or
specific duties. For that reason the
Washington conference included in the
treaty a provision for an emergency
special conference. to meet in China
within three months after the coming
into force of the treaty, and TO pave
the way for the speedy abolishment of
'likin." the veXatious Chinese provi-
sional transit tax system and the real
ization of other customs duty treaty
commitments with China on the part
of the United States, Great Britain
and Japan.
Readjustment Plans.
This special conference was designed
to consider interim provisions to be
applied prior to the abolition OF llkin,
TO authorize the levying of surtaxes
on dutiable imports at a uniform 2R
per cent rate, or even up to the per
cent limit in the case of articles OF
luxury, which the conference believed
"can bear a greater increase without
unduly impeding trade.
A further step to assist the Pekin
government financially through the in
crease of custom leyies lay in the
treaty stipulation that revtsions of
rates should take place, after compile
ton of the first revision, at z
year intervals instead Of the 10-year
intervals previously provided for.
To round out this primary step in
the Chinese readjustment the confer
ence adopted 10 separate resolutions,
the most important of which provides
for the constitution of a commission
of inquiry into Chinese judicial prac-
tees with a view to recommending to
the powers steps to be taken toward
REIMBURSEMENT of extra-territorial
rights in China. 1t is based on the eX-
listing treaty agreement with China on
the part of the United States, Great
Britain and Japan separately; that
each nation is prepared to surrender
it's special rights when warranted in
doing 50 by necessary changes in
Chinese legal practices to make them
suitable for application to foreigners.
The inquiry commission would be
authorized also to assist the Chinese
government in getting through a ju-
diciaI reform program to this end.
The resolution, known as No. 5, pro-
vides, that the commission shall report
it's recommendation to the powers
within a year after it is set up and
each signatory power, including China,
specifically reserved the right to ac-
cept or reject any of the reconlmenda-
tionS.
Study of Evacuation
Another of the resolutions author
lied the diplomats of the signatory
powers in Pekin to begin Joint study
with the Chinese government of the
practicability of withdrawal of all for
eign troops stationed in China as rail-
way guards or otherwise, some of