Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-13
China's Way of Doing Things.

when it is written, it is done" This
is the traditional basis of governmental
performance in China. From ancient
times to the present, the issuance OF
orders and mandates and programs mas
in the public mind been tantamount
to actual achievement. The Scrloes
wrote the command and the ruler al
fixed his chop" and the deed was ac-
complished. Subordinates and provin-
cial chiefs might neglect to carry out
these orders, money provided for the
execution of works thus projected
might be squandered on other objects
or filter into private purses. but the
works were supposedly executed. For
there was the imperial command ana
that ended the matter.
In much the same way China is
treating the question Of extraterritori-
atty, which has been declared settled
by mandate from Marking, despite the
refusal of Great Britain and the United
States to renounce the treaties which
establish that right fer their nationals
in certain areas of China. A declara-
ton has been pronounced at Marking
that extraordinarily will cease In
China January next, and that there
after all foreigners in that country will
be subject to the jurisdiction OF the
Chinese courts, wherever they may re-
side or be stationed in business. This
declaration having been formally made
In writing and signed with the chops
of government officials, 1t Is regarded as
a complete and sufficient abolition Of
extraordinarily.
The principal objection Of the gov
ernments which still hold extraterri-
toriality rights in China to their re-
linouishment is that the Chinese courts
are not dependable for justice to the
foreigners. The Marking government
is now proceeding to set up q judicial
system that will, on paper, meet this
objection. It is establishing an elabo-
rate series of judicial tribunals and al
lotting certain of those courts to the
handling of internationals. BY man
date of June 6, 1881, ten such courts
were named, with twenty-five judges
and an array of procurators and clerks,
medico-legal experts and counselors.
There, says the Marking government,
are your courts No foreigner need
fear injustice with such an establish
ment.
Just to be more convincing the Nam
king government proclaims the desig-
nation of five prisons for the detention
of foreign nationals convicted within
the respective jurisdictions. And to
make the case complete the Judicial
Yuan at Marking has even prescribed
the dimensions of the cells In which
such foreign nationals are to be con-
fined: Three meters high, three and a
half meters long and two and a half
meters wide There will be two hum
dred and sixty-f1ve of these cells in all.
In addition a section of each of the
five prisons will be set apart for the
detention of foreign nationals awaiting
tri9l
What more could be asked? BY
January 1, next, there will be the ten
courts to try the cases and there will
be the five prisons with their two hum
bred and sixty-flve cells for the dis
pcsal of the prisoners, with ample
waiting rooms" for prospective con-
victs. No mention is made of execution
chambers or beheading fields. Perhaps
that is sn evidence of delicate feeling
on the pert of the Marking govern
ment But the words are written, the
proclamations are broadcast, with their
official chops attached, and the matter
Is therefore settled. For such is China,
tod:y, as in the past, the lend Of the
accomplishing mt through print.