CO129-491 - Public Offices - 1925 — Page 244

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'valid reason is shown for such transit by one of the 'Contracting States concerned'. It is maintained that the geographical considerations adduced in paragraph 1 of this statement and the nature and extent of British trade with Yunnan do constitute valid reasons for the extension to this traffio of the obligations defined in the Statuta,

Another reason which it is legitimate to advance here may be found in the obligations which both Great Britain and France undertook at the Washington Conference of 1921-2 in the matter of their policies in relation to China, The Nine Power Treaty of February 6, 1922, was intended to promote intercourse between China and the other Powera concerned 'upon the basis of equality of opportunity' and Franco, as one of the signatories specifically agreed to use her influence for the purpose of effectually establishing and maintaining the principle of equal opportunity for the Commerce and Industry of all nations throughout the territory of China, The spirit of such

a policy would of itself appear imperatively to demand the abrogation of the present system of transit duties both as constituting in themselves a barrier to intercourse with China and as denying equality of opportunity.

V. The question of transit across French Indo-China was discussed at some length by the Conference at Barcelona at which the Convention was adopted in 1921 and largely as a result of these discussions Artiole 14 was included in the Statute. This Article provides that "the provisions of this Statute shall not apply to those Contracting States where a Colony or Dependency has a very long frontier in comparison with its surface and where, in consequence, it is practically impossible to afford the necessary Customs and Police supervision". It is understood

/that

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