"The present conference has been called together pursuant to the pro-_ visions of the ington Treaty' effort made by the Chinese people for the realization of their legitimate national aspirations. She has herself been subject at one time to unilateral restrictions upon her freedom of action in matters of fiscal and judicial administration. The present struggle of the Chinese people to be relieved of those restrictions has had its counterpart in her own history. It may therefore be of some interest to review as briefly as possible the path which Japan feels she has opened up for the solution of the same problems that are now engaging our atten tion, Customs revenue for to assist in the finan tion of the country. Tt requires c?, this conference the consideration of two distiney matters. In the first place, Article 2 provides that, the Conference shall take immediate steps to prepare the way for the! speedy abolition of likin and for the fulfilment of the other conditions, Haid down with a view to levying a surtax provided for in the previous treaties between China and other In the second place Article How Japan Instituted Reforms In 1858 Japan for the first time opened her ports to foreign trad Under the commercial treaties that were then concluded she had to concede extraterritorial rights, she had to undertake unilateral engagements in the matter of the Customs of 2h per cent. ad valorem and, in the case of certain articles of "luxury, ata. higher rata not exceeding 5 per cent. to the levy of a surtax under Article 3, the rate is fixed at 24 pe= jeent. ad valorem., Obviously it
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.