The Washington times., 1926-12-07
Peace Based On InternatiOnal Duty

fs - r Pa
the subject 81 China s tariff With
these aims In view, the American
delegation at The outset OF the con
ference proposed 20 put into effecl
the surtaxes provided for 10y the
washington yrsaIy and 10 proceed
immediately 10 the negotiation OK
treaty which. among other things.
Was 70 make provision for the
abolition OF taxes collected on
goods IN transit. remove the tariff
restrictions In existing treaties
and put into effect the national s
tariff Law Of China.
Ready 60 Resume Farley
Early IN April OF the present
year the central Chinese govern.
nlent was ousted from power by op
posing warning factions 1T became
impossible under. the circumstances
70 continue the negotiations Fin
ally, on July 8. the delegates Of the
foreign powers, including those Of
the United States issued d state
ment expressing their unanimous
and earnest desire to proceed with
the work OF the conference at ths
earliest possible moment. when tbps
delegates Of the Chinese govern
u
discussions with the foreign dele
gates OF the problems before me
conference. We are prepared ID
resume the negotiations thus III
terrupted whenever u government
representing the Chinese peorie
and acting on their behalf presents
Itself. The fact that constant war.
fare between contendIng Chinese
factions has rendered Ii Impossible
70 bring these negotiations u.
successful conclusion is matter
Of deep regret, throughout these
conflicts we have maintained pu-
sttiun OF the most careful neutral.
ity. Our naval vessels In Asiatic
waters. pursuant TO treaty rights.
have been used only for ire pro
lection Of American citizens.
StrawIi Sent as Envoy
Silas Fl. Strawn, esq. was sent
20 China as American commits.
Stoner 70 cooperate with commits
sioners Of the other powers III the
establishment OF a commission "a
inquire into the present practice
OF extraterrirorial Jurisdiction in
China. with q view to reporting
TO the governments OF the several
powers their findings OF fact tn
regard to these matters The
commission commenced its work
Ia January 1926 and agreed upon
4 joint report which was signed
on September III. 1896 The com
missions report has been received
and Is being studied with view
90 determining our future policy
In regard TO the question W ex
traterritorial privileges under
treaties between the United States
and China.
The preparatory commission for
the Disarmament Conference met
ct Geneva on May MS and its
work has been proceeding almost
continuously since that date. II
would be premature to attempt To
form y Judgment as to the prog
ress that has been made. The
commission has had before II
compreh ensive list Of questions
touching. upon all aspects OF the
question Of the limitation Of arnaa-
ment. In the commissions dis
cussions many differences 0f
opinion have developed. However
I am hopeful that at least some
measure OF agreement will be
reached 60 the discussions con
tinue. The American represents
ton on the commission has con
sistently tried to be helpful, and
has kept before It the practical
objective to which the commission
is working. namely, actual agree
meIlts for the limitation Of arrna-
ments. Our Representatives win
continue their work in that di-
reotion.
Limitation OF NRvies
One Of the most encouraging
features Of the commissions work
thus far has been the agreement
in principle among the naval ex
perts Of majority of the powers
parties to the Washington treaty
limiting naval armament upon
methods and standards for the
comparison and further limitation
Of naval armament. It is needless
to say that at the proper time
I shall be prepared to proceed
along practical lines TO the
conclusion OF agreements carrying
further the work begun at the
Washington conference In 1921
Tc~1AOI EOvynmnI