Mr. Hioki has said he expects to return to Peking in August because he says the Customs Conference wit be erred by that time and will resume" business. According loki the conference will bein where it left off, which means that China has secured tariff autonomy from 1929.
In sporting circles, however, among those who are accustomed to think and take as few chances" as possible, the odds are heavily against' Mr. Hioki's "predictions. The "wise guys" accept as true the unofficial dictum that the Conference is a3 dead as Hector and that only when real government represent ing all China has been formed and recognized by the Powers and Governments interested in the future of China as creditors can a thonest Conference meet again in Peking (or elsewhere) to consider the future fiscal and financial read-Justment of the affairs of the bankupt nation of the Orient.
This is not the first time Mr. Hick has been on the defensive before the thinking element of his own peopl. tis not the first time he hes bee severely criticized for his zeal and fidelity as a Minister plenipotentiary.
In the year 1915 as Japan' Minister to Peking, Mr. Hioki ueting under orders, negotiated the Twenty-one Demands, the blunder worse than crime of the Okuma ministration, Unfortunately those "Demands" will be associated with the name of Hioki through all the ages—unfortunately for him espe-clatly in the beginning and at the fend of the recent diplomatic abore tion known as the "China Customs Twice a Scape-goat Mr. Hioki would have been a distinguished diplomat" had not been thus selected twice as a scape-goat. He is well intentioned, ambitious, somewhat over self-confident, but of most kindly disposi. tion. "Neither does he lack 'a comprehension of what is fundamental.
cade but he does lack "savoir ire" when it comes to the contact with the finer type of West-fern trained diplomatic. or even of the "heathen Chinese." "Many are Nery sorry for Mr, Hioki, but Baron Shidshara is in deadly earnest and believes ju the man, the hour and the plan.
Field Marshal Generalissimo Wa Pei-fu and Field Marshal Chang Tsodin, the Admiral Premier and the Admiral Minister for Foreign Affairs in Peking have been assured! by Mr. Hioki that he doesn't inten to leave the ship until all hope hal fred and "the last galoot's ashore."
The Extraterritorial Commission ears remains, of course, she Ex. raterritorial Commission of which Mr. Hioki of Japan afd Mr. Strawn: Jof the U.S.A. are among the mem. bers. The Commission so far has not reported anything. They are preparing their report, say the news agencies and the special correspondents, but so far ro indication hi been given as to the decisions or recommendations. It~ must be concluded, however, that the Commission, like the Customs Conference, wil decision until "euch time as China has a formal government recognizee by the Powers con-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.