At the Tariff Conference in Peking on Tuesday the American
delegate made proposals which, as the Times correspondent says, would have taken away the breath of Old China. Nevertheless, other delegates, including the British, French and Dutch, announced that they were in substantial agreement with these proposals. The Japanese delegate dissented for the reason he had given at a previous meeting that China, like Japan, ought to prove her fitness by very gradual stages. China is now offered tariff autonomy in 1929, but on condition that she will abolish the li.kin, that is to say duties levied within China. If this condition can be fulfilled China in 1929 will be as free financially as any country in the world. This prospect will be a shock to many foreign residents in China who have long regarded the Treaties as immutable ; but, for our part, we are extremely glad that a generous scheme should have been offered, for we are convinced that in no other way can the good elements in Chinese nationalism be encouraged.
* a a *
Previous page
