Evening star., 1925-07-11
Seeking to Aid China.


slang expression that epitomizes the
treatment accorded China for years by
world powers. Three years and more
ago representatives of nine of the
great countries of the world, assembled
in Washington, negotiated two treaties
dealing with China and adopted half
a dozen separate resolutions proposing
TO improve conditions for the Chinese.
The underlying purpose of these treat
les and resolutions was to give China
chance, a chance to help herself.
The treaties relating to China have
been ratified by all the powers except
France, and the French Chamber of
Deputies within the last day or two
has finally put it's seal of approval on
them, and it is expected that the
French Senate will follow suit. The
powers involved in the treaties. besides
France and China, are the United
States, Belgium, the British Empire,
Italy, Japan, the Netherlands and Por-
tugal, all of which are keenly inter
ested in problems of the Pacific Ocean.
1t is scarcely worth while at this
date to utter words of regret because
France has not been more expeditions
in her action on these important treat
les. The fact is that France. for one
reason or another, did delay. Condi-
tions in China, which at the time of
the negotiation of the treaties in 1922
cra va Drop,ica oF i,,oproyipcr ~ tho no,.-
ers acted in good faith and in accord
ance with the provisions of the treat
les, have grown worse. Today the fat
is in the fire. 1t will be far more diff
fiCult, perhaps, TO make headway in
the satisfactory adjustment of Chinese
relations with foreign nations than it
would have been three or two years or
even one year ago.
The two treaties relate to principles
and policies to be followed by the ma
tions in regard to China and to Chi
nese customs tariff. 1t may seem
strange to Americans familiar with the
tariff question at home to know that
the Chinese are not allowed by the
toms tariff as they desire in their own
country. But such is the case and
has been for years. The control over
the customs has been wrung from the
Chinese under one guise or another,
and the duties have been kept at such
a low rate that China has been unable
to raise sufficient revenue to maintain
a strong government.
Extraterritoriality is another ques-
ton in which the Chinese are vitally
interested, the power of foreign gov
ernments to establish courts of their
own within Chinese territory to try
their nationals. The Washington con-
ference proposed that this should be
studied carefully, with a view to the
ultimate abolition of extraterritoriality
The United States has been tradi-
tionally a friend of China. At the
Washington conference this country
stood China's good friend in the nego-
tiation of these treaties. Much was
won for China at this conference, and
it is to be hoped that finally steps will
be taken to set in motion the ma
chinery then proposed to help China
help herself.
President Coolidge is to hold an i'm
portant conference with Secretary Kel-
logg of the State Department on the
Chinese question. His aim is to aid
China, and to use the good Offices of
the United States to bring about a
settlement Of the present difficulties
in China. If the President is success
full in his efforts he will have accom-
plished much toward peace in the
world.