irade with the East: No Weak-tening of Existing Safeguards The following letter, already referred to in Reuters! telegrams, appeared in "The Times" of November To the Editor of "The Times,"
Sir,—In view of the increasing disorder in China, which seriously prejudicing Brit the likelihood of the there becoming the subject of que: tions in Parliament, the China Committee, which represents all sections of our commerce in China, would be glad if you would allow the under~ signed to give their views in regard. to the difficult problems which China presents, These views have not been formed without reference to the existence of larger issues. We appreciate, for.
ample, the changed setting of Pacific questions created by the: Washington Conference. Or to take another example, we are mindful of the possible reaction of Chinese on European affairs through Russia, And, needless to say, we are pro foundly conscious of other economic and political changes made in Buropean life by the war. Chinese nationalism is another factor to. which we have done our best to due consideration. It is a factor of which we have practical knowledge, Knowledge which has impressed on us the necessity for taking long views and for supporting a policy of liberality in our dealings with. Chins Within the grounds thus limited and cleared the first opinion we desire to express is that, until Chinese nationalism is able to furnish more evidence of constructive and administrative capacity than has so far given, the safeguards under which British " trade hitherto been conducted ought not to be further weakened. The dissolution of the British Concession at Hankow has proved extremely harmful to British commercial in-forests there and throughout the Yangtze Valley. The safeguards represented by other Concessions lit for the time being to be main-have been begun 2 in the status of the British Conceshion at, Tientsin. We think that they should not be: continued, With the safeguards re~ pprosented by the Concessions we associate certain others—extraterritoriality, foreign administration of the Customs, and the rights and facilities hitherto recognized in_re-aport of the sale and purchase of goods in the interior and of the Fiverine and coastal carrying tra Secondly, we feel assured thi abandonment of these safeguards and rights would be more dangerous to our trade than boycott, dangerous als that has proved itself to be.
Thirdly, we think the retention of those safeguards leaves ample scope for the prosecution of a liberal policy towards China and for Chin-nationalism to prove its qualities We are.in favour of increases in the import tant? provided such in. creases are borne by the nationals of other Powers, which is not the case at the present time. We are in favour of the recommendations made by the Extraterritoriality Commis sion (including those. regarding, taxation), though we think that the present. state of the Provisional Gourt—formexly the Mixed Court—at Shanghai is a most disappointing ugury for experiments along these nes; and we avo in favour of invit~ ing the Chinese at Shanghai—as the Municipal Council of the International Settlement has already done share foreign administrative Fesponsibilities.
Finally, we consider that both ish persons our treaties with China declare that the present condition of the ex-British Concession at Hankow is, menace to both, and that the only Way to remove this menace is for M. Government to administer the former Concession until such. time as the Chinese are able and willing' to give effect to the Chen-O'Malley. Agreement.
We are, ete China "Committee.
1X7 Ease, Chairman, China Ase chamber of Commerce.
J. RANKING, Pintavson, Manchester Guy Logocx, Federation of British F. ANDERSON, Chairman, Par Eastera Section, London Chamber of Com-
Heanor W. Looxex, wr, lately of Hongkong. as sdiia
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.