Amusing Document Issued by the Local Kuomintang 'The proclamation of the Nanking' Nationalist Government announcing the abolition of likin and the en-foreement of tariff autonomy is now the subject of considerable space in the Chinese newspapers.
'The "Shunpao" learns that the Chinese Director-General of the Customs Service in the Nanking Government has addressed " letter the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce saying that the abolition of likin and the' increase of tariff are first steps towards autonomy and that presents a great opportunity for China's future trade, The Nationalist Government (says. the letter) has passed through many hardships and has gone to the trouble now of proclaiming autonomy. The aim of the proclamation is to improve the living conditions of the farmers, labourers and merchants and not only to increase national Fevenues. As it is feared that some people may misunderstand the Government's intentions,.the Cham-
them, bor ip asked to make things clear to Prevention of Export The different local branches of the kuomintang "have issued several circulars and despatched several open telegrams throughout the provinces within the control of the Nationalists and that of the Second City Branch is most amusing.
The Nationalist Government has only moved to Nanking for. three months but now it has suddenly} proclaimed the abolition of likin and pain to-the hearts of the Chinese] people and now that the Govern. ment has issued its proclamation all are happy. Since the opium war, '80 years ago, foreigners have been stealing our territory and they have seized our Customs; they have forced the Chinese Government to pay them fabulous indemnities, they. have broken up our constitution and they have compelled us to accept, unequal treaties until we see on all Treaty was signed in Nanking, other countries have demanded that we should grant them similar privileges to those of the British, This in accordance with their imperialictie aggressive policy and is unfair. If hitherto we wanted to further our trade.
We could not do so on account of the Customs.
Our cash has gone out but little has game in, "For 80 years the Customs has been controlled by foreigners four sides of us foreign goods and Chinese merchants transformed intel Sony St is own ar the Yoon Rae one foreign merchants, if they are not, otherwise forced into bankruptey. If wanted to promote our own trade, foreigners used the Customs, to limit our activities by preventing, us from exporting our goods. If we wanted to boycott their goods, they were protected by the Customs. If} we wanted to carry out our revolutionary plans, the foreigners and the Customs supported the militarists and impeded our progress. The! Chinese Government was powerless to increase the Customs dues and it was as a result of this that likin, export taxes, ex-factory taxes, goods; taxes and other taxes were' introduced. They caused much harm to the Chinese people but they made up for the deficit resulting from the foreign control of the Customs. That policy was suicidal. Now that the Nationalist Government ha: proclaimed tariff autonomy, it devolves upon the people to support the Government and act as its rearguard, 80 that eventually we may get xid of the: unequal treaties and secure for China a place of equality in the family of nations, Therefore, let us unite!
(foreign customs) which is equivalent to the Customs being foreign. The- Poking Government, controlled by the militarists, has always been making m for their own pockets. Selfish offici the running dogs of the militarists.
'They think} nothing of the people but of their lown aggrandizement. 'The Nation. alist Government in Nanking, how-_ ever, is a government of the people, for the people and by the people. Tt does not squeeze' the merchants oF the peopl "Unlike the northera ie Nanking Nationalist Government has the interests of the people at heart.
Now, Customs
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.