Evening star., 1925-10-17
FUTURE Of CHINA
HINGES ON PARLEY
Red Russia Ready to Fan
Unrest if Conference of
Powers at Peking Fails.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

OWCi . dl I CkillS I o''os
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.
After Locarno, Peking. Issues as
momentouS for the tranquility or
Asia as the allied German issues
settled in switzerland are about 10
he dealt with at the capital of China.
on October 26 the nine powers that
conferred in Washington in l92l-22 on
Far Eastern affairs Will meet IN re
king to tackle the thorny problem OF
the Chinese tariff system. They in
Clude the United States, Great Brit
ain. Japan France. Italy, The Meth
erlands. Portugal, Belgium and China
herself. II was agreed among the
Washington Conferees that a special
conference to consider abolition OF
foreign control Of the Chinese GUS
toms should be held within three
months after the ratification of the
Washington treaty by all of the sig
natory powers. Final ratification
having taken place only in August.
1925-more than three years after the
signing of the treaty in Washington
the special conference was fixed
for the end of the present month.
Revolt Is Alternative
Undoubtedly one of the stirest diplo-
matte battles in the history of China s
tortuous relations with foreign powers
lS impending. So-called Young China. =
consisting for the most part of the
thousands of Americana educated Chi
nese, who established the republic in
1872. is bitterly determined that the
fiscal crown of thorns' which the
outside world has pressed down upon
the brow Of China for nearly 100 years
shall he lifted China wants the op-
pressing powers to lift it of their own
accord. But If they do not do so
Young China" serves notice that il
cannot he held responsible for what
the rising tide of Chinese nationalism
may preCipitate in the direction of
damage TO foreign interests pretend.
Ing TO enjov independent rights within
Chinese territory.
1t was this long smolderlng spirit of
revolt against the foreign yoke that
brought about the anti-foreign out
break at Shanghai The immediate
cause of violence on that occasion of
Svhich Japanese and British interests
We're the principal victims, had moth
ing TO do with the Chinese tariff sys-
tenn, but was the result of that equally
obnoxious situation whereby the pow
ers are literally law unto themselves
In China. That is the so-called extra.
territorialitv" system. The Chinese
are resolved that this infringement on
their national sovereignty shall also
be abolished. AT the Washington CON
ference 1t was provided that special
commission should be appointed 20 in
VeStlgate eXtraterritoriality and rec
ommend suitable means for the re-
eSta blishment of China's own jurisdic-
tion over her courts of law The com
mission to consider this question will
be convened in Peking December IS.
United States Favors Change.
The United States has the most
genuine sympathy with China's de-
sires to be mistress in her own vast
house. It was largely due to Ameri-
can pressure that France the last
power TO ratify the Washington
treaty. finally did so last Summer. or
the conferences about to take place
In Peking might still be waiting to be
heid. But the American Government
Is not disposed to abandon the protec-
ton foreign powers enjoy under exist
ing conditions. however irksome to
emma, until China proves her ability
TO put her house in order and guar
antee the safety of foreign lives and
property within her borders. Ad-
dressing the American Bar Associa-
tion at Detroit on September .. Sec
retarY Kellogg taseIy stated the
American attitude in the following
terms:
These conventional tariffs. extra
territorial rights and foreign settle
mentS have come about through
treaty arrangements with China. un-
der which thousands of Americans
and foreigners have taken up their
residence and carried on their busi-
ness within that country. The United
States owes to them the duty Of ade-
quate protection, and the Chinese
government must have a realizat ation
Of lts sovereign obligations according
to the law of all civilized nations.
Can China Protect Aliens?
I'm the discussion and settlement
OF these problems one of the most
difficult questions is whether China
now has stable government, capable
of carrying out these treaty obIiga
lions. l am very sure that the peo-
pie of the United States do not wish
to control. by treaty or otherwise, the
internal policies of China, to fix its
tariffs or establish and administer
courts, but that they look forward to
the day when this will not be neces-
sarY.'
Only within the past few davs the
complete uncertainty of Chinese CON
ditlons was exhibited in connection
with the attempt of Silas II. Strawn.
Americas principal delegate at the
customs conference, TO reach Peking
from Shanghai by train. The Chica go
lawyers train was held up by Chinese
handlts and compelled to detour 10
suit their whims. China in effect is
today in bandit bondage There is a
central government, with a president
IN power at Peking, and with nominal
authority over the two chief inter
national ports of Shanghai and Tien-
Tsln. But the real ruler of this heart
OF emma is the bandit viceroy of
Manchuria, the notorious and power.
ful Chang -Tso-Lin, whose troops rule
the roost in the three great cities
above mentioned. One OF Washing
ton foremost authorities on China
explains that If Americans will bark
back to the days of Jesse James and
imagine his minions and armed men
In control at Washington, New York.
Boston. and Pittsburgh. Americans
VIII be able TO picture to themselves
something of the state OF affairs now
prevailing in unhappy China
Red Russia in Offing.
The chief business In hand at the
PeklnE customs conference will be
the question of abolishing "1ikin." a
local transportation tax, and granting
In lieu thereof certain additional sur
taxes to China. There will be the
further and vitality important ques-
tion of clothing China with the right
to say how high the tariff on imports
into her own country shall be and
the correlated question of handing
over the administration of the tariff
system to China. At present tariff