What Do the Unequal Treaties Mean? Basis: of Chinese Desire: What Foreigners Fear Shanghai, July 8.
Chevalier S. K. Chen, Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chief of the Shanghai Bureau of the Ministry; has received the following official declaration by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Nationalist Government of the Republic of China on the conclusion of new treaties: ing to law, the Nationalist Government hereby make the following specific declaration with regard to all the unequal treaties (1) AM the unequal treaties between the Republic of China and other countries, which have already expired, shall be ipso facto abrogate ed, and' new treaties shall.be concluded. janking, July 7, 1928
"The Nationalist Government, with a view to adapting themselves to the present day circumstances and with the object of promoting the welfare of and the friendly relations between China and different considered [the abrogation of all the unequal treaties and the conclusion of new treaties on the basis of equality and mutual respect for territorial sover-eighty as the most pressing problem at the present time. These aims have been embodied in declara-
(2) The Nationalist Government will immediately take steps to terminate, in accordance with proper procedure, those unequal treaties which have not yet expired, and conclude new treaties.
(3) In the case of old treaties which have already expired, but which have not yet been replaced new treaties, the Nationalist Government will promulgate appropriate interim regulations to meet the exigencies of such situation."—Reuter, Italian ait! Danish Treaties tions repeatedly made by the Nationalist Government.
Now that the unification of China is an accomplished fact, it is the task of the Nationalist Government to make every effort fully to realize these aims. While they will continue to afford protection to foreign ives and property in China, accord-
Nanking, July 8
Dr, C. T. Wang in separate des-Patches to the diplomatic representatives of Italy and Denmark, officil-/ly notified them of the impending' expiration of the Sino-Italian and Sino-Danish treaties and proposed commencement of negotiations for! the conclusion of new treaties in order to continue the friendly rela. tions between China and the two countries—Kuo Mi Italian Minister's View tole © Peking; Suly 9.
The Italian Minister, H, E. Com-tine, Daniele Vat Snteryved center" this méryiing, gald that haa not se reeds Note fom the Nanking Government in regard to the expiry of the'treaty between Italy and China, but hen this was received he would forward it immediately to Rome.
Commdr. -Varé pointed out th Italy had already expressed willingness in principle to consider treaty revision and he had made this clear, but Italy was not prepared to admit that the existing treaty lapsed on June 90 as a consequence of a declaration to that effect by the Nationalist Government. Italy would maintain her legal: position:
"There is nothing in Article XXYI_ of the Treaty of October, 1866; he declared, i view that the 'Treaty'
Int force. Ofly certain compart tt is improbable that Italy will accept at any time a position of inferiority to any other Power having interests in China'
Japanese Position Peculiar member of the Japanese Legation stated this morning that 'Japan came under the second section of the Nationalist Government's declaration on July 7, ie. that the Nationalist Government will immediately take' steps to terminate, accordance with "proper pfocedure, there unequal treaties which have not yet expired and conclude new treaties. For, he said, al the treaty. with China -expired in October, 1926; Article KXVI states that' either party must demand nm, and revision must be completed within six months of the date of expiration, otherwise the terms: of the original treaty shall remain Washington, June 16.
Basing his request on a statement by Mr. Kellogg in Bebrunry, 1027, that the United States would negotiate new treaties with any responsible Government of China, Dr. C. G. Ws, representing the newly established Nanking. Natio alist Government, has asked the State Department for immediate revision of the Chinese treaties.
Mr. Kellogg, Dr. Wu said to-dsy, has taken the subject under advisgment.
Dr, Wu said that as the delegated representative of the new Chinese Government he would insist China being given new treaties that would allow her to manage her own finances, and tending to abolish extraterritoriality and the most disliked and highly controversial portion of the present treaty Tu the meantime, Dr. Wu said, the new government would take steps to move the capital of China from Peking to Nanking. This, he added, was in line with the policy of the Nationalists announced many months ago Treaties before Recognition 'The' question of recognittep. by the Foreign Powers, while.a subject of great interest. to the new Gov-lornment o£ China, is a, secondary consideration as..combared, to the revision of the treaifes, Dr. - Wa said.
"Tt has been a traditional policy of the United States as well as other foreign Powers to recognize the Government in power in Pe-King," he said, "The Nationalists now are in charge of that city and recognition no doubt soon will follow.
"Recognition is not absolutely necessary. The new Government of China doesn't, really care whether fit is recognized or not so Tong as the Powers. show an inclination to adjust the wrongs so blatantly obvious in the old, outworn unilateral treaties now in force."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.