Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-27

| United States regarding China follows
AT this time, when there is so much
discussion of the Chinese situation.
deem it my duty to state clearly the
| position of the Department of State
on the question of tariff autonomy and
| the REIMBURSEMENT of eXtraterritorial
rights.
| The United States has always de-
sired the unity, the independence and
| prosperity of the Chinese nation. 1t
| has desired that tariff control and eX-
! taterrltoriality provided by our
| treaties with China should as early as
! possible be released. 1t was with
| that in view that the United States
made the declaration in relation to the
REIMBURSEMENT of extraordinarily in
! the treaty of 1908 and also entered
/ into the treaty OF Washington of Feb
ruary 6, 1922, providing for a tariff
conference to be held within three
months after the coming into force of
the treaty.
The United States is now, and has
/ been ever since the negotiation of the
| Washington treaty, prepared to enter
into negotiations with any government
| of China or delegates who can repre-
sent or speak for China not only for
the putting into force of the ,urtaxes
of the Washington treaty, but entirely
releasing tariff control and restoring
complete tariff autonomy to China.
What U. S. Expects.
The United States would expect,
however, that 1t be granted most
favored nation treatment and that
there should be no discrimination
against the United States and it's citi-
zens in customs duties, or taxes, in
favor of the citizens of other nations
or discrimination by grants of special
privileges and that the open door with
equal opportunity for trade in China
shall be maintained; and further that
China should afford every protection
to American citizens, to their prop
erty and rights
The United States is prepared to
put into force the recommendations
Of the EXtraterritoriality Commission
which can be put into force without 1
treaty at once and to negotiate the
release of eXtraterritorial rights as
soon as China is prepared to provide
protection by law and through her
courts to American citizens, their
rights and property.
The willingness of the United
States to deal with China in the most
liberal spirit will be borne out by a
brief history Of the events since MAX
ing the Washington treaty. That
treaty was ratified by the last one of
the signatory powers on July Z, 1925,
and the exchange of notifications took
place in Washington on August G.,
1925.
Reply to Chinese Note.
Before the treaties finally went into
effect and on June "a, 1925, the Chi
nese government addressed identic
notes to the signatory powers asking
for the revision of existing treaties.
On the LIST of July. 1925, 1 sent in
structions to our Minister in Picking,
which instructions / also communi-
Gated to all the other governments.
urging that this should be made the
occasion of evidencing to the Chinese
our willingness to consider the ques-
ton of treaty revision. l urged that
the powers expedite preparations for
the holding of the special conference
regarding the Chinese customs tariff
and stated that the United States be-
lieved that this special tariff confer
ence should be requested after ac-
complishing the work required by the
treaty to make concrete recommenda-
lions upon which program for
granting complete tariff autonomy
might be worked out.
The delegates Of the United States
were given full powers to negotiate
new treaty recognizing China's tariff
autonomy. At the same time, urged
the appointment of the commission
to investigate extraterritoriality. with
the understanding that the commits
sion should be authorized to include
in it's report recommendations for the
gradual REIMBURSEMENT of extraterr1-
torial rights. Prior to this, the Chi
nese government urged the United
States to use it's influence with the
interested powers to hasten the call
ing of the conference on tariff matters
and the appointment of the eXtrater-
ritorial commission and for each gov
eminent to grant to it's representa-
tives the broad power to consider the
whole subject Of the revision of the
treaties and to make recommends
lions upon the subject of the aboli-
ton of extraterritorial rights. This
was in harmony with the views Of the
United States.
Complied With Request.
Accordingly, on September d, 1925,
| the United States and each of the
other powers having tariff treaties
with China evidenced their intention
| to appoint their delegates TO the tariff
| conference. BY a note which has
been published, the powers Informed
| China of their willingness to consider
and discuss any reasonable proposal
| that might be made by the Chinese gov
eminent on the revision Of the trea
/ ties on the subject Of the tariff and
also announced their intention of APP
pointing their representatives to the
| extraterritorial commission for the
| purpose of considering the whole sub
| iect of extraterritorial rights and au-
| thorizing them to make recommends
tons for the purpose of enabling the
| governments concerned to consider
what, if any, steps might be taken
| with a view to the REIMBURSEMENT OF
| extraterritorial rights. Delegates
were promptly appointed and the Chi
nese tariff conference met on Octo
Der &c, 1925.
Shortly after the opening of the con
ference and on November 3, 1925, the
American delegation proposed that the
conference at once authorize the levy
ing of a surtax Of 212 per cent or
necessaries, and, as soon as the requi
site schedules could be prepared, au
thorize the levying of a surtax Of ur