CO129-496 - Public Offices - 1926 — Page 93

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to press for a treaty, we shall of course have to

fall back on some less formal agreement and

possibly even be content with mutual assurances, but in any case their interdependence should if possible be made clear. Failing this there remains nothing but to hold the Chinese to their promise.

6. Do you consider the risks involved in such

a course are very great? If granted tariff autonomy in the manner proposed, is it your view that the Chinese will merely levy taxes in accordance with the scale of interim surtaxes already put before the Conference and that we should still be in a favour- able position for negotiating a separate convention to come into force simultaneously with tariff

autonomy?

7. Flease telegraph your considered views, on receipt of which the question will be further considered here in consultation with the interests

concerned.

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