The Tariff-Conference opened on Monday. The Chinese Foreign Minister, who
was elected Chairman, declared that his Government wanted tariff autonomy. This, of course, was expected, but Mr. C. T. Wang surprised the Conference by demanding that tariff independence should be accomplished in three years, and that there should be a surtax of 5 per cent. instead of the 2/ per cent. promised at Washington. Only two days before the Conference began a' new tariff law. was prthinulgated providing for iMport duties on articles other than luxuries not higher - than 4 per cent. and not lower than 71 per cent. The new duty on wine and tobacco ranges frcm 50 to 80 per cent. The delegates of the nine Powers represented then in turn read addresses in which, the Times correspondent tells us, " the word ' generosity ' in relation to Chinese aspira- tions was repeated ad lib." The instability of the Central Government is a most discouraging fact. We wonder whether is would be possible for the Powers to seek the permission of Peking to- invite all the principal. Tuchuns to a conference ? There is little hope of immediate unity in China, but the rival. Provinces might perhaps agree to a revision of tariffs and treaties from which they would all profit. This would imply, and perhaps lead on to, provincial autonomy under a Central Government.
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