Of the mass of arguments lately the provisions of the following is al brief summary. securing tariff autonomy for China, either of the two treaties, when ratified, will place her on record against a protective} tariff. The clause, similar in both J. documents, which is thought capable fof producing such an effect, pro-will begin to be opera 1, 1930, and that failing detailed arrangements on such date which the Chinese Government will make with in Government for the sumption by China of jurisdiction over Belgiam subjects, the latter shall thereafter be amenable to the Chinese Jaws and jurisdiction as soon as the majority of the Powers now possessing extraterritorial pri vileges shall have agreed to relinquish them."
In the case of Italy, itis similarly Provided in one of the annexes that failing the above-mentioned detailed arrangements, "Italian subjects shall be subject to Chinese laws and jurisdiction from a date to be fixed by China, after having come to an agreement for the abolition of extraterriioriality with all the Powers signatory to the Washington trea-it being understood that the date shall be applicable to all such Powers"
'A Storm of Criticism The conditional _relinquishment provided in the two treaties has given rise to a veritable storm criticism, The former treaties with Belgium and Italy, it is stated, had already been abrogated by China, and a modus vivendi promulgated governing the treatment of their respective nationals in this country. Consequently neither of the two [countries was any longer entitled to extraterritorial privileges, but providing that the article abolishing, such shall begin to be operative on January 1, 1930, the annexes to the new treaties virtually returned to Belgium and Italy what they already had lost. Further, the matter was much complicated by making the surrender conditional upon the attitude of other Powers in the event of failure to conclude before such date the detailed arrangements referred to above.
Charge of One-Sidedness —Despite the mutual character of the arrangement, the right to ye and trade and to acquire pro-in any part of China which is to be accorded Belgian and Italian subjects in return for their surrender of extraterritorial privileges, is believed, under the present economic conditions of China, to be reciprocal in name but one-sided in effect, At the present stage of China's economic development, it is thought utterly impossible for the Chinese to utilize to their advantage such privileges, whereas, on the other liliand, China has, to place herself tunder obligation to open up the en-re country to foreign exploitation. This is regarded as extremely dan-karous and likely to give rise to a host of Sino-foreign complications as a result of foreign residence in the interior—at least it appears $0 to the critics, About two weeks ago an exact: ly identical article appeared in almost ull Chinese newspapers which was virtually a reply to those critics of the two treaties, The fact of the article being identically worded and being neither signed nor credit-to any source would suggest that had come from some oficial quarter, if not from the Foreign Ministry itself.
The Condition of Equality First, the right to live and trade. and to acquire property in any part of the Chinese territory will not be granted to either Italian or Belgian nationals until the relations—between China and either of the two countries are on a footing of perfect equality, which condition involves not only the surrender by the other contracting party of consular jurisdiction, but also of other pecial privileges such us inland navigation, foreign concessions and settlements, the right to station troops in China, etc. orant of the right to live and and to acquire property in the interior of China is; as provided in the annexes to both treaties, subject to limitations prescribed by Chinese Jaws and regulations. Consequently, the right to be granted is by no means absolute, but one subject to limitations.
Besides, it is further stated in the said article that the right question, when granted, will be of 8 mutual character, the provision ing not only conducible to the bat also in practice. the article st (es, China can hardly seck for equality unless she ix prepared to undertake those ordinary international obligation It is further stated in the article that the abrogation of the former Sino-Belgian and Slow Italian treaties by China as well ax the promulgation of a modus ench has never been recognize bby the tivo countries concerned. So far as treaty abrogation is concerned, the dispute is still open, the settlement of which being one of the principal things the new treaties have accomplished. Unless China chooses to follow the example of Soviet Russia, states the argument, unilateral action in the sphere of foreign relations should never be countenanced. nationalist Foreign Policy 3.—The two new treaties are upheld as cing in complete accord with the formula laid down in the Nationalist foreign policy; namely, that of dealing separately with the foreign Powers, first with those having only a secondary interest in China and those generally recognized as being sympathetic with the Chinese aspirations with the view to leaving the recalcitrant) strong powers in isolation, Whether or not the signing of the two now treaties afforded but fan auspicious moment for a long-fostered attack on the present Foreign Minister, the onslaught thas tended to prove that among all portfolios in the Nanking Govern ment that of foreign affairs is by far the most delicate task. The Foreign Minister has before him a very definite programme—the revision of the unequal treaties—and there can be no indulgence for him if he dawdles with his task! Last
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.