We welcome Reuter's assurance that China's request for further revision of her tariff is likely to be considered for some good time before an answer is given; and we protest at once and emphatically against the suggestion (ey whom made Reuter does not say) that "aa a temporary measure @ - surtax might be employed." There have been too many surtaxes recently, on, railways, telegrams, Customs, and probably many other things of which the foreigner knows nothing. We want to know how much of the money thus raised has gone to the famine for which the surtaxes were ostensibly imposed and when they are to be suspended. But to the general question, it would be sheer lunacy in the present state of China to. permit Peking to increase import dues, which would merely mean a fresh burden on trade without an atom of corresponding benefit to the country. The only effect of such revision would be to provide Peking with a new source of revenue to pledge for loans that would be squandered in the old familiar way. As for bartering an increased tariff against abolition of likin—when Peking can prevent provincial soldiers from kidnap ping missionaries, looting cities and holding up travellers, it will be time enough to talk about asking the provinces to surrender likin. It seems almost incredible that anyone with any knowledge of China as she is to-day should even deem the question of likin abolition worth a moment's consideration.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.