THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1929. CHINA AND TEE POWERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20171, 4 February 1929, Page 8

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1929. CHINA AND TEE POWERS.

Teat the long lane of Chinese etiorts to establish international relations has taken a cssmte ii»rmng -s I shown V-y the signing a the tans protocol by representatives of the British and Chinese GovernmentsIt covers only one phase 01 international affairs, but that one has been regarded by China as so important that the way to more crucial negotiations is thereby paved. Although the terms ci the protocol are not communicated, there can be no doubt that they follow those of the treaty signed by China and the United States in July last. There was a further treaty, concluded between China and Germany in August, in which the two Powers covenanted, in general terms, to accord each other equal treatment in customs matters. The text of the American treaty is more precise. It 13 a brief but significant document, consisting of two articles. The first of these annuls the provisions of previous treaties relating to the tariff and announces the principle of complete national tariff autonomy, subject to the condition that each of the high contracting parties shall enjoy in .he territories of the other, as regards the specified and related matters, treatment in no way discriminatory as compared with the treatment accorded any other country. Neither party shall pay in the territory of the other duties or any other internal charges but those payable by the nationals of the country or the nationals of any other country. The second article of that treaty merely provides for ratification and declares that the English text shall prevail in the event of future discussion as to the meaning of the agreement. Sir Austen Chamberlain gave an assurance that Britain would accept a similar agreement, and the conclusion of this is important confirmation of the willingness of the chief treaty Powers to assist China to the utmost in her endeavours to recover financial stability.

How long the lane has been is not readily realised. Its far-away beginning lies in the events of 1911-12, v.hen the revolution overthrew the Manchu dynasty and founded the republic. The import of this for foreign Powers lay in the vigorous arousal of the forces of nationalism which have ever since found virulent occasiou of offence in the foreign consequences of China's domestic weakness. The impetus bringing the republic into being sprang from the same source as the growing power of the Kuomintang, one of whose tenets, set in the forefront of its programme as that of "the people's party," was the wresting of equality of status from the Powers. Had the republic been firmly established from the outset there would have been met little if any difficulty in negotiating with the Powers for this equality But internal difficulties dogged the new regime from the outset. Dissension was soon rife, and the situation was complicated by Russian intrigue in China and the open exploiting by Japan of her opportunity to establish a stronger influence in the Orient while the European Powers were preoccupied in the Western phases of the great war. The outbreak of civil strife in China tore the country in twain. Canton vied with Peking, and lawless warlords overran the land and commandeered financial resources. Soon China, weakened by this strife aivl brought to bankruptcy, was in sorer need than ever of foreign aid ; but this could not be given because of the lack of an established Government with which to treat. At the Washington Conference promise of help was given ; a tariff conference was eventually convened : but affairs in China went from bad to worse, and thi& conference was rendered fruitless by China's incapacity to make a united effort, to profit by it. Since then, the authority of the Peking Government has diminished to vanishing point, tho Cantonese have triumphed, and a new era, promising political unity, has begun. Speedily, on tho heels of the.Ge events, tho treaty Powers have availed themselves of tho oppor I tunity to make good their promises of aid.

In the tariff treaties already concluded, the British treaty being signalised by its coming into immediate operation, there ha 3 been

taken the first practical step toward China's recovery of full international .status. Theoretically, of course, that status has never been relinquished. Even at Geneva, although her representative has been without an effective Government behind him, his right to participate in League business has not; been challenged, although China's wish to retain a place among the nonpermanent members of the Council has been denied by an emphatic vote, influenced in part by the fact that China was shamefully in arrears of contributions to the League s exchequer. In practice, however, China has been anything but independent; nor can she become so, in the full sense until her own house is completely set in order. Tariff autonomy begins: but there is stil. the vexed question of extraterritoriality to be considered, and even the benefits of the new tariff treaties, depending as they do on firm administration by the Nationalist Government, to the extent of quelling the vexatiousiy lawless interprovincial duties that have burdened foreign commerce, will tarry for good internal government. But the new tariff treaties initiate promisingly a new era The American treaty vras a kindly gesture, and the German a tactful sequel to it: Japan has made a promise to revise her whole agree menf : and now this British protocol, the first to be effective, is signed. If China fulfils her share of duty, the independence she has so long and lucklessly sought will be achieved.