Directory_and_Chronicle_1923 — Page 639

CHINA

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made to secure the return to Peking of all the M.P's. who were dismissed in 1917 and a date was fixed -August 1st-for the reconvocation of Parliament. A quorum was gained for the first meeting of the House of Representatives, but was still lacking on August 1st in the Senate.

During 1918 a Bolshevik threat emanated from Siberia, but it was met by Allied intervention. Japan furnished a considerable proportion of the troops and found it necessary to take military measures in Manchuria which were not altogether pleasing to China.

China unsuccessfully appealed to the Paris Conference in 1919 to restore to her Kiaochow and Germany's other rights in Santung, claimed by Japan under the Sino-Japanese Treaty of 1915. By way of protest, the Chinese delegates refused to sign the Peace Treaty with Germany, and a boycott of Japanese goods was organised by the students in "China. The appeal was renewed in 1921 at the Washington Conference, the outcome of which was the Shantung Treaty whereby the form er German-leased Territory of Kia chow was restored to China. Other points in the treaty, which is of a comprehensive description, are: Japan undertook to transfer to China all public properties, including land, buildings, works or establishments, in Kiaochow, w ether formerly possessed by the German authorities or purchased or constructed by Japan, with certain exceptions; Japan undertook to withdraw her troops on the Tsingtão-Tsinan Railway; Japan undertook to transfer to China the Tsingtao-Tsinn Railway and its branche, "together with all other properties appurtenant thereto," on receiving payment from China; Japan undertook to transfer the mines at Tsechwan, Fangtze, and Chinlingehen to a company in which the capital would be shared in equal proportions by Japanese and Chinese. The Shantung Commission, to give effect to these provisions, was convened at the conclusion of the Washington Conference. It met at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Peking, Dr. C. T. Wang being the chairman of the Chinese Commissioners, and Mr. Yukio Obata, the Minister of Japan to China, being the chairman of the Japanese Commissioners. A settlement was reached early in December, the terms of which will be found in the Treaty section of this volume.

Other results of the Washington Conference which have a special bearing on China were the Nine-Power Treaty, the Chinese Tariff Treaty, and the resolution regarding foreign Postal agencies in China.

The Nine-Power Treaty, signed by the United States, Belgium, the British Empire, China, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, and Portugal, was intended to give effect to "a policy designed to stabilise conditions in the Far East, to safeguard the rights and interests of China, and to promote intercourse between China and the other Powers upon the basis of equality of opportunity." Briefly, the covenant seeks to end for all time the pursuit by interested Powers of "spheres of influence" and reaffirms the Hay principle of the Open Door and equal opportunity for the trade and commerce of the world in China. China, on her part, agreed not to alienate any part of her Territory to any foreign Power. A clause to which the Chinese attach much significance is that which provides for the registration and consequent publicity of all treaties and agreements between China and the other Powers and all contracts and agreements between China and private individuals and corporations of foreign countries.

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The Tariff Treaty was the result of a resolution passed by the Powers participating in the Washington Conference authorising the revision of China's import tariff, SO that the rates shall be equivalent to 5 per cent. effective, as provided for in the several commercial Treaties to which China is a party." Certain concessions were also made by the Powers with the object of helping China to meet the conditions contained in international agreements, notably the Mackay Treaty between Great Britain and China, concluded in 1902, providing for the abolition of interior imposts known under the generic name of likin. These concessions were a 24 per cent. surtax and an extra per cent. on such luxuries "as can bear a greater increase without unduly imped- ing trade." At the conclusion of the Conference, the Tariff Revision Commission commenced its sittings in Shanghai to give effect to the resolution; and the result of its decisions is given in the earlier part of this volume. It will be followed by another special conference which is to consider the question concerning the imposition of

the surtaxes.

All foreign l'ostal Agencies in China are to be withdrawn subject to the conditions that an efficient Chinese postal service is maintained and that an assurance is given by the Chinese Government that they contemplate no change in the present Postal Administration so far as the status of the foreign co-Director-General is concerned.