THE CHINESE TREATY.

Evening Star, Issue 20062, 31 December 1928, Page 6

THE CHINESE TREATY.

O.VE of the terms of the Auglu-Chinesc Treaty was presaged a few days before its official announcement. It had just been revealed that France and China had signed a new tariff agreement. From this it could at once ho deducted that at length China had been granted a measure of autonomy in this respect and this the treaty confirms by stating that it reveals the abrogation of all existing treaties which limit the right of China to settle her own national Customs tariff or to impose tonnage dues in accordance with her own desires. Hitherto China’s Customs revenue has been virtually under a foreign receivership. The collection of the revenue on Chinese foreign trade has been under the management of the Chinese Maritime Customs, an institution which was founded by Sir Robert Hart and has a large staff of foreign as well as Chinese subordinates. For over quarter of a century the Native Customs at the treaty ports, hypothecated for the service of the Boxer indemnity, have been under the Maritime Customs. All Customs revenue has been paid into foreign banks designated by the Bankers’ Commission, which allots from it the payments for the service of foreign loans secured on the Customs revenue and for the service of the Boxer indemnity. For the three years 1924-25-26 the Customs receipts averaged about 12 V millions sterling per annum, but thcrealter there was a considerable falling off, due principally to the disturbed state of the country. It docs not appear that the existing receivership is to cease; but there is evidently a great deal more latitude to be permitted to China in the matter of fixing, and possibly handling, her own revenue from this important source. Britain has taken the load in recognising the new Chinese Government, and has thereby secured a good start in the race for the development of China’s immense resources with, it is to be trusted, mutual benefit to the two countries primarily involved. Only a short while ago such a concession would have been worthless, but the mere signing of the treaty indicates the degree to which civil war has died down and order been restored under a Government which holds out some real promise of authority and permanence. It also indicates the failure of Soviet Russia to secure dominance in Chinese all airs, which would unquestionably have worked to the detriment of the Western Powers, and notably of Britain.