British Chambers of Commerce sends us the following statement under the title given above:—The meaning and intention resolution passed by the Conference of Associated British Chambers of Commerce on February 22 having been seriously misinterpreted in a leading article in the "North-China Daily News" of the following day, the Committee of the Associated British Chambers has authorized the present communication to the press.
The resolution in question reads as follows:
"That in the opinion of this Chamber the establishment in China of a Government able to exercise control of tha Provinces and enforce its Mandates therein is most urgent, and is an es. sential preliminary to all reforms, including the reform of internal taxation with a view to the ultimate abolition of likin; that the necessary steps towards the establishment of an effective Government are, first, the re-establishment of China's credit and the placing of her finances on a sound basis by making provision to meet the floating indebtedness of the Government, as well as the amounts duo by the various Government Departments, these latter to include claims for losses incurred by foreign firms and individuals owing to political unrest during. recent years, and, secondly, the disbandment' and disarmament under foreign supervision of all soldiers other than a standing army, of a strength to be agreed, which should be under the control of the -Central Government, and the employment of the disbanded soldiers in the construction of railways and other similar work; that the proceeds of the proposed surtax and of any loan raised on the security thereof and any funds set free through the funding of the surtax or loan should -be devoted first to these ends. 3 "That the uso for the purposes above stated of all funds becoming available and the keeping of the funds under adequate control to secure their use for such purposes should be made essential conditions on which the surtax is granted, such control to be at least as adequate as that now exercised by the Inspector-General over the funds of the Maritime Customs.
"That when these objects have been achieved any surplus should be devoted' towards the abolition of internal taxation on merchandise beginning with the coast trade duties, namely the one and one-half duty levied by the Maritime Customs on goods carried between ports in China.'"
The surtax referred to ig- the per cent. Customs Surtax agreed
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.