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Britain and China, in articles 4 and 5 of the treaty of the 8th October, 1903, between the United States and China, and in article 1 of the supplementary treaty of the 8th October, 1903, between Japan and China, with a view to levying the surtaxes provided for in those articles.
The Special Conference shall be composed of representatives of the signatory Powers, and of such other Powers as may desire to participate and may adhere to the present treaty, in accordance with the provisions of article 8, in sufficient time It shall meet in China within three to allow their representatives to take part. months after the coming into force of the present treaty, on a day and at a place to be designated by the Chinese Government.
ARTICLE 3.
The Special Conference provided for in article 2 shall consider the interim provisions to be applied prior to the abolition of li-kin and the fulfilment of the other conditions laid down in the articles of the treaties mentioned in article 2; and it shall authorise the levying of a surtax on dutiable imports as from such date, for such purposes, and subject to such conditions as it may determine.
The surtax shall be at a uniform rate of 21 per cent. ad rulorem, provided, that in case of certain articles of luxury which, in the opinion of the Special Conference, can bear a greater increase without unduly impeding trade, the total surtax may be increased, but may not exceed 5 per cent. ad valorem."
ARTICLE 4.
Following the immediate revision of the customs schedule of duties on imports into China, mentioned in article 1, there shall be a further revision thereof to take effect at the expiration of four years following the completion of the aforesaid immediate revision, in order to ensure that the customs duties shall correspond to the ad ralorem rates fixed by the Special Conference provided for in article 2.
Following this further revision, there shall be, for the same purpose, periodical revisions of the customs schedule of duties on imports into China every seven years, in lieu of the decennial revision authorised by existing treaties with China.
In order to prevent delay, any revision made in pursuance of this article shall be effected in accordance with rules to be prescribed by the Special Conference provided for in article 2.
ARTICLE 5.
In all matters relating to customs duties there shall be effective equality of treatment and opportunity for all the contracting Powers.
ARTICLE 6
The principle of uniformity in the rates of customs duties levied at all the land and maritime frontiers of China is hereby recognised. The Special Conference provided for in article 2 shall make arrangements to give practical effect to this principle; and it is authorised to make equitable adjustments in those cases in which a customs privilege to be abolished was granted in return for some local economic advantage.
In the meantime, any increase in the rates of customs duties resulting from tariff revision, or any surtax hereafter imposed in pursuance of the present treaty, shall be levied at a uniform rate ad valorem at all land and maritime frontiers of China.
ARTICLE 7.
The charge for transit passes shall be at the rate of 24 per cent. ad valorem until the arrangements provided for by article 2 come into force.
ARTICLE 8.
Powers not signatory to the present treaty whose Governments are at present recognised by the signatory Powers, and whose present treaties with China provide for a tariff on imports and exports not to exceed 5 per cent. ad valorem, shall be invited to adhere to the present treaty.
The Government of the United States undertakes to make the necessary com- munications for this purpose and to inform the Governments of the contracting Powers of the replies received. Adherence by any Power shall become effective on receipt of notice thereof by the Government of the United States.
ARTICLE 9.
The provisions of the present treaty shall override all stipulations of treaties between China and the respective contracting Powers which are inconsistent therewith, other than stipulations according most-favoured-nation treatment.
ARTICLE 10.
The present treaty shall be ratified by the contracting Powers in accordance with their respective constitutional methods and shall take effect on the date of the deposit of all ratifications, which shall take place at Washington as soon as possible. The Government of the United States will transmit to the other contracting Powers a certified copy of the procès-verbal of the deposit of ratifications.
The present treaty, of which the English and French texts are both authentic, shall remain deposited in the archives of the Government of the United States, and duly certified copies thereof shall be transmitted by that Government to the other contracting Powers.
In faith whereof the above-named plenipotentiaries have signed the present treaty.
Done at the City of Washington the 6th day of February, 1922.
CHARLES EVANS HUGHES.
(L.S.)
HENRY CABOT LODGE.
(L.S.)
OSCAR W. UNDERWOOD.
(L.S.
ELIHU ROOT.
(L.S.)
(L.S.)
BARON DE CARTIER DE MARCHIENNE. (L.S.) ARTHUR JAMES BALFOUR.
(L.S.)
LEE OF FAREHAM.
(L.S.) A. C. GEDDES.
(L.S.) R. L. BORDEN.
(L.S.)
G. F. PEARCE.
(L.S.)
JOHN W. SALMOND.
(L.S.)
ARTHUR JAMES BALFOUR.
(L.S.)
V. S. SRINIVASA SASTRI, SAO-KE ALFRED SZE.
V. K. WELLINGTON KOO.
CHUNG-HUI WANG.
A. SAREALT.
JUSSERAND.
CARLO SCHANZER.
V. ROLANDI RICCI.
LUIGI ALBERTINI.
(L.S.) T. KATO.
(L.S.) K. SHIDEHARA.
(L.S.)
M. HANIHARA.
(L.S.)
(L.S.)
W. DE BEAUFORT,
(L.S.) ALTE.
BEELAERTS VAN BLOKLAND.
(L.S.) ERNESTO DE VASCONCELLOS.
(L.S.)
(L.S.)
(L.S.
(L.S.)
(L.S.
(L.S
(L.S.)
(L.S.)
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