"We confidently hope," said Hioki, "that, endowed with markable qualities of vent and supported by the asserting itself in the country, the Chinese people will succeed in accomplishing reforms towards these ends, as much desirable for their own "welfare as for: the common geod of all nations. Moreover, the going through lo such as T have taken the Uberty to outline, China would be sble, without fail and without injury to herself or her friends, to accomplish the huge task of bringing her fiscal administration upon a sound and scientific basis and ushering in a new era of prosperity in the Republic.
"In conclusion," said the speak-ex, "T desire to reaffirm on behalf of the Japanese Delegation our faith in the spirit of friendliness which animates -this important gathering. We ardently hope and believe that by frank discussion and neighbour ly ce-operation, by mutual assistance and concession trid by the exercise of due respect for one another's rights and inter. ests, the present Conference will find' equitable solution for every problem before it to the satisfac tion of all and thus demonstrate its will to live and let live."
Sir Ronald Macleay Sir Ronald Macleay said: "It is my Privilege to respond for the British delegation to the kind words of welcome and the friendly een ments which their Excellencies the Chief Executive and the Minister for Foreign Affairs have pronouneed on behalf of the Chinese Government.
"This Customs tariff conference fs, as you all know, the outcome of an engagement solemnly entered into by the nine Powers including China, which took part in the Washington Conference; and its scope and object were clearly laid down and defined in the treaties ruary 1922. His Britannic signed by those Powers on Feb-Majesty's Government in accepting the invitation of the Chinese Government to take part in this Conference and in appointing their delege ye been actuated by precisely the same motives which impelled them to join in the resolutions respecting China adopt-Washington, and to become ce-signatories of the Washington Treaties, namely, their earnest desire to assist the Chinese Nation in the realization of its legitimate rations and in the achievement of results beneficial to China as a whole. His Majesty's Government. wish the British Delegates to ap-Freach the Conference in a genei delegation -is prepared to discuss the question of tariff autonomy, either at this conference or, if that, cannot be arranged, at 'a later date, We are anxious that the con-ions reached by this conference inlay make it possible for the Chin-coe to establish a thoroughly sound fiscal system and to raise adequate revenues for the needs of the Central Government and also those of the provincial authorities, British and Chinese Interests ims of the Conference as laid down in the Washington Treaty is the labora tion of measures leading to the abolition of likin and other internal, levies on trade; and, in the view of His Majesty's Government, this must necessarily entail some readjustment of the fiscal relations between the Central Government and the provinces, which will take into due account the financial necessities of the component parts of this great Republic.
"We are convinced that British interests and Chinese interests are essentially the same. We have no doubt that it is in British interests only less than in Chinese interests to promote the establishment of a united, independent, orderly and. prosperous China. We naturally recognize that, the -attainment of this aim lies in the hands of the Chinese themselves, but so far as British assistance may be practicable and may be desired, I can assure you that the wholehearted co-Presup- operation of this delegation is at the disposal of the Chinese Delegation and of all our other colleagues.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.