A.—s

30

IV. Treaty between the United States of America, Belgium, the British Empire, China, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, and Portugal, relating to the Chinese Customs Tariff. Signed at, Washington, 6th February, 1922. The United States of America, Belgium, the British Empire, China, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, and Portugal, with a view to increasing the revenues of the Chinese Government, have resolved to conclude a Treaty relating to the revision of the Chinese Customs tariff and cognate matters, and to that end have appointed as their Plenipotentiaries — ***** * Who, having communicated to each other their full powers, found to be in good and due form, have agreed as follows : — A.RTrCLE 1. The representatives of the contracting Powers having adopted, on the 4th day of February, 1922, in the City of Washington, a Resolution, which is appended as an annex to this Article, with respect to the revision of Chinese Customs duties, for the purpose of making such duties equivalent to an effective 5 per centum ad valorem, in accordance with existing treaties concluded by China with other nations, the contracting Powers hereby confirm the said Resolution, and undertake, to accept the tariff rates fixed as a result of such revision. The said tariff rates shall, become effective as soon as possible, but not earlier than two months after publication thereof. Annex. With a view to providing additional revenue to meet the needs of the Chinese Government, the Powers represented at this Conference —namely, the United States of America, Belgium, the British Empire, China, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, and Portugal—agree— That the Customs schedule of duties on imports into China adopted by the Tariff Revision Commission at Shanghai on the 19th December, 1.918, shall forthwith be revised so that the rates of duty shall be equivalent to 5 per centum effective, as provided for in the several commercial treaties to which China is a party. A Revision Commission shall meet at Shanghai at the earliest practicable date, to effect this revision forthwith, and on the general lines of the last revision. This Commission shall be composed of representatives of the Powers above named, and of representatives of any additional Powers having Governments at present recognized by the Powers represented at this Conference, and who have, treaties with China providing for a tariff on imports and exports not to exceed 5 per centum ad valorem and who desire to participate therein. The revision shall proceed as rapidly as possible, with a view to its completion within four months from the date of the adoption of this Resolution by the Conference on the Limitation of Armament and. Pacific and Far Eastern Questions. The revised tariff shall become effective as soon as possible, but not earlier than two months after its publication by the Revision Commission. The Government of the United States, as convener of the present Conference, is requested forthwith to communicate the terms of this Resolution to the Governments of Powers not represented at this Conference but who participated in the revision of 1918 aforesaid. Article 11. Immediate steps shall be taken, through a Special Conference, to prepare the way for the speedy abolition of likin, and for the fulfilment of the other conditions laid down in Article VIII of the Treaty of the sth September, 1902, between Great Britain and China, in Articles IV and V of the Treaty of the Bth October, 1903, between the United States and China, and in Article I of the Supplementary Treaty of the Bth October, 1903, between Japan and China, with a view to levying the surtaxes provided for in those articles. The Special Conference shall be composed of representatives of the signatory Powers, and of such other Powers as may desire to participate and may adhere to the present Treaty, in accordance with the provisions of Article VIII, in sufficient time to allow their representatives to take part. It shall meet in China within three months after the coming into force of tho present Treaty, on a day and at a place to be designated by the Chinese Government. Article 111. The Special Conference provided for in Article II shall consider the interim provisions to be applied prior to the abolition of likin and the fulfilment of the other conditions laid down in the articles of the treaties mentioned in Article II; and it shall authorize the levying of a surtax on dutiable imports, as from such date, for such purposes and subject to such conditions as it may determine. The surtax shall be at a uniform rate of 2J per centum ad valorem; provided that, in cases of certain articles of luxury which, in the opinion of the Special Conference, can bear a greater increase without unduly impeding trade, the total surtax may be increased, but may hot exceed 5 per centum ad valorem. Article IV. Following this immediate revision of the Customs schedule, of duties on imports into China mentioned in Article I, there shall be a further revision thereof, to take effect at the expiration of four years following the completion of the aforesaid immediate revision, in order to ensure that the Customs duties shall correspond to the ad valorem rates fixed by the Special Conference provided for Ln Article 11.