Evening star., 1925-07-11
Treaty @. K. Lifts Obstacle
to Solving Nations
Internal Ills.
KELLOGG AND PRESIDENT
CONFER ON u. S. POLICY
America Must Take Lead in Call
ing Farley on Peking
Customs.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

the customs treaty adopted by the
nine powers in conference at Wash
ington early in 1922 has made possible
a forward step, which both President
Coolidge and Secretary of State Kel-
logg hope will assist in solving the
internal troubles of China.
Nothing could be done for three
years because of the delay in France
but now, with the ratification accom-
plished, the next move must be taken
by the United States in summoning
a conference to take place at Shang-
hal or Peking within three months. at
which arrangements for administer
ing the tariff will be made.
One of the chief obstacles to unity
in China has been the right of vari.
Gus provincial governors and fac.
tional chiefs to collect customs in.
ternally. The abolition of the internal
tax now is sought and the strength.
ening of the central government at
Peking by increasing it's revenues is
perhaps the most important of all.
There have been various inequali-
ties in the application of tariffs be-
tween China and various countries, SO
the Washington conference attempt.
ed to harmoniZe the whole situation
by making all the interested powers
duty.
VIII Increase Revenue.
This rate has theoretically been in
effect before, but in actual cash il has
amounted only to 3l2 per cent The
powers now are to arrange to make
it reach per cent, and this will mean
at least S156, ,000, 900 in silver added to
the revenues Of China. Senator I'm
derwood of Alabama, as a member of
the American delegation, helped frame
the tariff treaty, and may be asked to
assist in the first conference on ad-
ministration, thought it is primarily a
task for United States Treasury off,
cials
This is not the only phase of the
Chinese problem which the Secretary
of State had to lay before Coolidge
on his visit here. The customs tariff
treaty was adopted at the same time
that the famous nine power pact was
signed, and this, too, has been ratified
by the United States, Belgium, Great
Britain, France, the Netherlands,
Italy, Japan, Portugal and China.
This embodies what are known as the
Root principles" because they were
sponsored by Elihu Root as a member
of the American delegation appointed
by the late President Harding.
Guarantee China Freedom.
Two of the principles were the fol
lowing:
The powers agree to provide the
fullest and most unembarrassed op-
portunity to China to develop and
maintain for herself an effective and
stable government.
Whenever a situation arises which,
in hn mi of Of in
wolves the application of the stipula-
tions of the present treaty and rem
ders desirable discussion of such ap-
plication, there shall be full and frank
communication between the contract
ing powers concerned"
Under these two clauses the United
States and the other powers are obli-
gated to consult each other on vital
questions. One Of these is the prob
lem of extraterritorial rights. The
Chinese delegation at the Washing
ton conference submitted 10 points,
one of which was as follows:
Immediately, or as soon as circum-
stances will permit. existing limita-
tions upon China's political, jurisdic-
tional and administrative freedom Of
action are to be removed"
Commission Inactive.
The treaty finally signed took note
of Chinas plea only in general pledge
to provide China with the fullest and
most unembarra ssed opportunity to
develop and maintain an effective and
stable government" A commission
was appointed to investigate and
study all the questions involved in
eXtraterritoriality including the mat
ter of consular courts. Nothing has
been done since by way of action. The
anti,foreign movement in China is at
tributed to some extent to the indif-
ference of the powers to this very
thing.
The United States Government. in
fiuenced by Senator Borah, chairman
of the Senate foreign relations COM
mittee, has taken the lead in asking
the powers to get together in con
ference, but Great Britain does not
think the time is ripe for conference.
so President Coolidge gave callers the
impression today that he didn't think
the party would be held. Informal
consultations will be continued, how
ever, through diplomatic channels
and there will be further meetings Of
the diplomatic corps at Peking, which
will be of greater value now that the
newly appointed American Minister,
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