Evening star., 1926-12-07
MUCH TIME NIGHT BE SAVED
/ BY INNOVATION, MESSAGE SAYS
Other Bills, Now Crowded Out of Short
Session, Could Be Considered,
1850 Is Argument.

October 26, 1925. We participated IT
this conference through fully en
powered delegates and, with good VIII
endeavored to cooperate with tne
other participating powers with
view to putting into effect promises
made to China at the washington
conference, and considering any rea
sonable proposal that might be made
by the Chinese government for the
revision of the treaties on the SUB
ject of China'S tariff. With THESE
aims in view the American delegation
at the outset of the conference pro
posed to put into effect the surtaXes
provided for by the Washington
treaty and to proceed Immediately tc
the negotiation of a treaty, which
among other things, was to make pro
vision for the abolition of taxes col
lected on goods in transit, remove the
tariff restrictions in existing treaties
and put into effect the national tariff
law Of China.
Early in April of the present year
the central Chinese government was
ousted from power by opposing war
ring factions. It became impossible
under the circumstances to continue
the negotiations. Finally, on July g.
the delegates of the foreign powers.
including those of the United States
issued a statement expressing their
unanimous and earnest desire to pro
ceed with the work of the conference
at the earliest possible moAent when
the delegates of the Chinese govern;
ment are in position to resume dis
cussionS with the foreign delegates
of the problems before the conference.
We are prepared to resume the nego-
tiations thus interrupted whenever a
government representing the Chinese
people and acting on their behalf
presents itself. The fact that con-
slant warfare between contending
Chinese factions has rendered it i'm
possible to bring these negotiations to
a successful conclusion is a matter of
deep regret Throughout these con.
flictS we have maintained a position
Of the most careful neutrality. Our
naval vessels in ASiatic waters, pur-
suant to treaty rights, have been used
only for the protection of American
citizens.
Report Being Studied.
Silas II. Strawn, esq, was sent to
China as American commissioner to
cooperate with commissioners of the
other powers in the establishment of
a commission to inquire into the pres
ent practice of eXtraterritorial juriS.
diction in China, with a view to re
porting to the governments of the
several powers their findings of fact
In regard to these matters. The com
mission commenced it's work in Jan.
uary, 1926, and agreed upon a joint
report which was signed on Septem
ber 16. 1926. The commissions report
has been received and is being stud
led with a view to determining our
future policy in regard to the question
Of eXtraterritorial privileges under
treaties between the United States
and China.
The preparatory commission for the
disarmament conference met at Ge
neva on May IS. and its work has
been proceeding almost continuously
since that date. 1t would be prema-
ture to attempt to form a judgment as
to the progress that has been made.
The commission has had before it a
list of questions touch
ing upon all aspects of the question
of the limitation of armament. In the
commisSiOn'S discussions many differ
enceS of opinion have developed.
However, I am hopeful that at least
some measure of agreement will be
reached as the discussions continue
The American representation on the
commission has consistently tried to
be helpful and has kept before it the
practical objective to which the COM
mission is working, namely, actual
agreements for the limitation of arma-
ments. Our representatives will con-
tinue their work in that direction.
One Of the most encouraging fea-
lures of the commissions work thus
far has been the agreement in prin-
ciple among the naval experts of a
majority of the powers to the Wash
ington 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 1 shall be pre-
pared to proceed along practical lines
to the conclusion of agreements carry
ing further the work begun at the
Washington conference in 1921.