WEST INVADES CHINESE TRADE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17879, 22 June 1926, Page 12

WEST INVADES CHINESE TRADE.

PROF. CONDLIFFE SPEAKS ON “ OPEN DOOR ” POLICY. Political and economic problems of the Pacific were dealt with by Professor J. B. Condliffe at Canterbury College last night, in the first of a series of lectures. Mr A. R. Dunlop, president of the Students’ Association, was in the chair, and there was a good attendance. The lectures are in aid of the Students' Building Fund: At the conclusion of the meeting. Professor Condliffe was thanked for his instructive and interesting address. Professor Condliffe commenced his address by referring to the occidental aggression in the east. The initiative in the contact of East and West, has come from Europe because of industrial expansion, and the necessity of finding markets. We were in China at our wish, not at. the wish of the Chinese, as the billowing reply given by the Emperor, Chien Lung, to Lord Macartney in 1793. serves to demonstrate. “Our Celestrial Empire possesses all things in prolific abundance, and lacks no product within its own borders. There was therefore no need to import the manufactures of outside barbarians in exchange for our own produce. But as the tea. silk and porcelain which the Celestial Empire produces are absolute necessities to European nations and to yourselves, the limited trade hitherto permitted at Canton is to continue. I do not forget the lonely remoteness of your island, cut off from the world by intervening wastes of sea, nor do I overlook your excusable ignorance of the usages of our Celestial Empire.” THE PERIOD OF “UNEQUAL TREATIES.” When the growing production of Britain was forcing overseas expansion both in the colonies of settlement (e.g.. New Zealand, 1840) and inland penetration of Indian and Canada, the first war with China (1840-1842) connected partly with opium, but more with general trade, ended in the Treaty of Nanking, by which Ilong Kong became British, and five treaty ports were opened. At the same time the tariff was fixed at 5 per cent on all imports, and not more than 5 per cent on exports. This treaty is still operative and is the basis of China’s pre-sent-day demand for “tariff autonomy.” In. 18-58 at the close of the next war, in addition to opening up seven more ports and the river Yang-tse kiang, a schedule of conventional prices for import valuation was drawn up. This schedule was revised in 1902 and 1918. From the fir?t treaty of 1842 also springs the other great problem of modern China—the extra-territorial privileges, mainly of justice, tinder ' which foreigners work in China. These - treaties, originally concluded with i Great Britain, had been demanded by and conceded ,to other Powers, generally by a “most-favoured nation clause” in commercial treaties. The unanimous consent of thirteen Powers was now required before any change could be made.

ADVENT OF JAPAN AND RUSSIA. The extension of unequal treaties to new Powers and in new directions followed the wars of 1842, 1856-60, 1870 and 1885. and diplomatic pressure between whiles, especially after the opening of the Suez Canal, in 1869. The conquest of Burraah was completed in 1885, and in the same year France took Annam and completed her control of Indo-China. In 1894-5 Japan first asserted her position as a rival of the Western Powers in a war with China, which gave her; (a) prestige; (b) the virtual control of Korea (annexed 1910) ; (c) Fermosa and the southern islands; (d) the diplomatic support of Britain. A further result of this war was the. treaty between Russia and China which gave railway and territorial privileges iii Manchuria, to which Japan succeeded in 1905. In 1897 Germany used the murder of two missionaries as a pretext for establishing railway, mining and naval rights in Shantung. These exacerbated European rivalries and were followed by a Russian base at Port Arthur, and a British base at Wei-hai-wei. Both Russian and G«rman bases and concessions had now passed to Japan. Any further scramble for territory was stopped by the American enunciation of “The Open Door Doctrine.” The Boxer rebellion of 1900 further strengthened the hold of the foreigners; but the American use of the indemnity for educational purposes would have increasing influence in promoting nationalism. The scramble for territory was stopped; but the pressure of investment and trading interests, the financial flight of the Chinese Treasury, and the growing weakness of the Manchu dynasty, brought sudden revolution in 1911. For a short period the dictatorship of Yuan-shi-kai gave comparative stability; but after 19X7 the Government of China had steadily disintegrated into factions. GROWTH OF NATIONALISM. The traditional government of China was by local and family units; national consciousness had been more religious and cultural than political As long as the gradual loss of external possessions could be granted under a formula which saved “face”; government was little disturbed. But the internal aggressions, especially in Shantung, and above all by “the dwarfs” had stung national pride. The cumulative effect of contact with foreigners, trading, missionary, diplomatic, cultural, military and now educational, had disturbed the equilibrium of Chinese life. Mass-education on a wide scale, the prolonged boycott, student disturbances, anti-missionary activi- : ties, strikes and riots, were only symptoms of deeper troubles. The plight of China was neither political nor industrial; but cultural in the last analysis. The irruption of a consciously nationalistic China into a troubled post-war world was the most important international development for centuries.