bonfidential
MEMORANDUL ON THE
LONDON,
92
21st September, 1925.
PRESENS CRISIS
As a result of the forthcoming Conference at Feking
the Chinese Government will no doubt expect Tariff Autonony
and the Abolition of Extraterritoriality, and will do everything
in their power to achieve those ains.
To grant them tariff autonomy would be disastrous not
only to the Powers, but also to China, because the Chinese
authorities, if allowed a free hand, would put on new or
increase existing duties on inports and exports whenever they
required money for raising troops for the purpose of internal
and also perhaps external strife, and Great Britain as the
chief importer from and exporter to China would be the heaviest
foreign sufferer, and China herself would continue to be tom
by civil war and rebellion. Further, it is most improbable
that under a system of Tariff Autonomy the provinces would
obey the Central Government: in particular, the Province of Kwangtung (Canton), which has so frequently and "uccessfully
defied Peking, would doubtless endeavour to set up a separate tariff for the South, and to use the proceeds for the support of its revolutionary policy. No guarantees given by Peking
would, under present conditions, be held to be binding on Canton and the other provinces of the South and West.
In my humble opinion the Powers should not in any
D.