In troubled times such as these, the mere statement of fact is often the best form of comment. Certain very appli-¢able facts apparently—have Been altogether disregarded by! the Chinese, even by men education and position. One of them is that Great Britain and the other Powers voluntary ily undertook to send a commission to China to investigate the "possibility of revising all the treaties between China and the Powers. That cortmission has thus far failed to come to China Rot because the-Powers are unxwilling"to. keep their. promise or to-make a fair investigation, Great Britain and the Powers) were ready to fulfil the Washington Treaties to the letter, the Chinese Government on at least two occasions requested that the Powers would defer ding such a commission to It was the Chinese Government which was instrumental in delaying this matter which seems so important to the strip kers. It was the Chinese Government which indicated to the Powers that China was not prepared to have a thorough investigation into the possibilities of revising what are termed unequal treaties.
The same is true of the Tariff Revision Conference. The Conference did not meet because the treaties had not been ratified by France. France failed to ratify because of the dilatoriness of the Chinese Government! in settling an outstanding question between China and France, the Gold Franc issue. That question was finally settled as anyone with any prescience might have known it would be, settled. The delay again was due not to the Powers but to the Chinese Government. The Tariff Conference might have) taken place two years ago but for the delay, the carelessness end the lack of political acumen of the Chinese Government.
Anyone who is at all conversant with the diplomatic relation of China knows that the facts as above stated are correct without the slightest bias. Yet, Chinese seem to disregard the facts altogether and to allow, themselves to become emotional ever matters of fancy, There! are two ways of effecting change of treaties: one by negotation; the other by war. It) ie unbelievable that any serious-minded Chinese would regard war between China and. the Powers as within the range of reason. Such a war could only work the greatest hardships on the Chinese people and might] Jead to results from which China could not recover in half a century. By negotiation, by conference and compromise, by a realization of the economic and political factors in the situation, Ly a recognition "of the historic ical processes which created the conditions. which China finds! umbrageous, much might be accomplished. China's gains at Versailles and Washington were very large. China's gains from the Tariff Conference will undoubtedly be important. Time and the processes of human development are bound to bring China a happier position among) the nations of the world. War, strikes, boycotts, anti-foreign demonstrations can only bring rust, disillusionment and re
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.