CO129-496 - Public Offices - 1926 — Page 98

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

fall back on some legs fomel 8greement 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.