* Even allowing for a certain amount of animus on the Governor'a part against the present Peking Government, his views on the impossibility of abolishing likin within the next three years are those of every unprejudiced person who has any knowledge of present conditions in China“.
Major .S.Nathan in notes on the political situation in China comunicated by him to the Foreign Office
5.
names
on the 22nd February, 1926, wrote as regards the Tariff Confer-
at ence that the question of the abolition of likin would once lead to insurmountable difficulties. The abolition of likin cannot be carried out by means of a Government order, on the issue of which all collection of likin would cease. Even supposing that the Government were a powerful one, con- trolling the whole country, an abolition order, to be effective, would have to be carried out by an organized system of detailed supervision, carrying on its work without interference from any of the mumerous faction leaders now in power. For effect- ive abolition it will be necessary to rid the country of any possibility of the imposition of taxation under other and in other forms. As well as the existence of likin today, how many instances have occurred in recent times of taxation on one excuse or another in excess of dues authorised by treaty? It must be the aim of the conference to definitely establish a tariff which would secure the passage of goods through the country without any danger of taxation in any form or under any pretext other than that agreed to by the Conference. Is the Goverment of the country in a position to do this? The answer is undoubtedly in the negative. It appears, therefore, that the Conference meets under conditions which of necessity
render its labours futile".
6.
I further observe that sir C. Eliot, His Majesty' Ambassador to Japan, wrote to the Foreign Office in a despatch
dated
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