Evening star., 1928-06-10
Americas $83,OOO,OOO Exports to China
Facing New Nationalist Tariff Barrier

AS recorded, the Peking Tariff Con-
ference broke UP without treaty being
sianed, so that the tariff autonomy
issue has no standing in international
law. and the powers fall back upon
their existing treaty rights with China.
viii the Nationalists ignore these
treaty rights? And II they do ignore
them, what will the United states ana
the other powers do? That remains 10
be seen. 1t is a matter of record what
the United States has done toward Rus
sia when that nation under the Soviet
regime repudiated treaty obligations.
Recognition has been withheld, though
business goes on between the two ma
tions under serious handicaps.
The United States in 1927 SOLD gooos
worth $83,5lO.912 to China. Wnlcn
would be subject to much higher tarln
charges than have prevailed nitnerto,
because the Nationalists are IN extreme
need Of revenues both to pay tne costs
of civil war and for reconstruction pur-
poses II the internal taxes should not
be abolished, through inability Of the
new Nationalist regime in Peking TO
make the provinces respect its DEGREES,
foreign commerce might face almost
insurmountable tax obstacles.
Here 1t may be asked why the pow
, ers have the right to say anything at
all about domestic matter such as the
tariff In China. This brings up the
whole question Of the so-called unequal
treaties" or the treaties which give for
eign powers special privileges In China
and large control Of China's relations
with the powers The Nationalists want
these treaties revised or reScinded. The
United States has expressed readiness 70
meet this demand just so soon as
China gives proof Of being able 20
conduct her affairs in justice to Arneri-
can interests II the new Nationalist
regime means China has reached the
stage where she can fulfill the duties
OF world power, the United States viii
welcome 1t sincerely and wholeheart-
edly, but any government with great
stakes in China necessarily must be
governed by practical conditions rather
than overenthusiastic and sometimes
sentimental demands for immediate
recognition of a new regime.
AS for the unequal treaties, they
grew out of wars with China, or con-
fiicts with parts of China, and repre-
sent what such treaties always repre-
| sent. namely the victor debating terms
to the vanquished Any one who thinks
| the powers have been unduly harsh with
| China in debating treaties should read
the Versailles treaty which Germany
had to sign. They will find that Ger
many has TO submit to occupation nf
her territory by foreign troops. super
vision Of her finances through the
Dawes plan and other agencies, limita-
tons on her navy and army and other
| treaty terms as severe as anything
China has had to accept. In each m
stance 1t was the cost OF being on the
losing side.
Belgium, Portugal. Japan and Spain
have been informed either by Peking
or Nanking. the capitals Of the two
| factions as they existed prior to the
recent downfall Of the Northerners, that
the treaties they have with China are
abrogated. None Of these powers has
accepted such notice because the
treaties provide that abrogation must
be by mutual consent
The United States will face this
problem In 1882, when our treaty ex-
pires, unless in the meantime a mutual
agreement Is reached to revise the
treaty. The probability Is that revi-
sions all around will be effected. pro-
vided the Nationalists maintain them
selves in power. but action on Chinas
part In defiance OF treaty stipulations
and the usages of international Law
is being resisted BY the powers.