CHINA’S GRIEVANCES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 9 December 1925, Page 4

CHINA’S GRIEVANCES.

A few days ago a cablegram contained an interesting statement as to Bolsliein China, and reference wax made to the receptive soil in that country for planting a world revolution. It must be admitted that China has niore than one grievance against European nations. The greatest resentment of the rising nationalistic spirit is focussed on the extra-territorial rights which most foreigners in China enjoy. If a Chinese desires to sue an Englishman for a breach of contract he has to snio him in the nearest British Consular Court, and the case is tried by the British Consul according to British law. Jf the defendant is a Frenchman the case goes before the nearest French Consul”, and is tried according to the French law. This' multiplicity of courts and differing legal processes arc most confusing to the Chinese merchant, and lie not unnaturally feels that the legal odds are rather heavily loaded against him and in favour of the foreigner. Russia has renounced her extra-territorial

rights, and Germany and Austria lost these rights as the result of the Great War. China is now agitating for the total abrogation of extra-territoriality. She has seen Turkey divest herself of this burden, and realises that she alone of all the great nations of the world is forced to submit to it. There will never be peace in China until she is made mistress in her own house. Another grievance which is being pressed with increasing insistence is the demand for tariff autonomy. By treaty China is restricted to a 5 per cent ad valorem duty on goods entering the country, and the value has, until recently, been fixed ot pre-war prices. In order to secure the necessary revenue various' ‘‘likin’ ’ duties have been placed on goods in transit, through the country, but foreign goods arc exempted from '‘dikin’’ by treaty. Hence native goods pay “likin'/-' while foreign goods go free, and the Chinese merchant naturally feels that lie is suffering from unfair discriniimition. Moreover, for revenue put* poses, a tax has been placed on exports, and this handicaps the export trade, which is required to balance the country’s imports. Other countries are free to erect a high tariff wall, and thus protect their local manufactures, but China is debarred from protecting its newly-established industries bv the same method.