To the Editor of the "NORTH-CHINA Dairy News"
Sm;—Allow me to send you this somewhat belated reply to Dr. Ixur's letter which appeared in the October 17 issue of your paper, especially with reference to the three instances of what he described as "delinquences" on the part of China under the Nine-Power Treaty of Washington, The Board of Reference spoken of by Dr. Mur was provided for in one of the Resolutions, mainly on the initiative of the Chinese delegation. But, on account of strong popular opposition to it, for a time the Chinese Government did not press for its creation. This is different, however, from Dr. Inurs assertion that China *obstinately objected to this date to the creation of the Board." It may be recalled that the Tariff Conference at which detailed regulations governing the organization of the Board were to be drafted could not be held until 1925 on account of the fact that not until then were all ratifications of the Nine-Power Treaty deposited with the American State Department; and that when the Conference was finally held, it had to be suspended on account of disturbed conditions around Peking. Whether the Chinese Government would have been prepared subsequently to consider the creation of the Board is a question which must be left to conjecture, but the fact remains that they have not been approached on the subject since then. Hence it is difficult to comprehend how China could "obstinately object" for these years to something never demanded of her during that period. Evidently there is something wrong with Dr So k for the first instance of Chinese "delinquency" alleged Әy Dr. Inurl As to the remaining ones Temarks need scarcely be made. It should be evident to all that China violates no legal obligation by her inability to act upon the hope which the Powers expressed in one of the resolutions that steps would be taken to reduce her military forces and expenditure; and that China is even rore anxious than the Powers to effect this economy if she is permitted to do so. In point of fact it is Japan herself who, by her invasion of China in 1931 and her incessant encroachments upon Chinese sovereignty ever since, has prevented the consummation of the process of Chinese unification and hence impeded the carrying out of this moral obligation to reduce military forces and expenditure. For the same reason, namely, Japanese aggression, it has become open to question whether it is advisable to effect the reduction even after unification is completed. At any rate if Japan were to continue 10 constitute a menace to China and the general peace of the world as she does at present, China's moral obligation under {he resolution would undoubtedly lapse.
Nor can it be less clear that China cannot be held delinquent simply because she accepted the action of the Powers, who chose to relinquish their hold upon Chinese tariff autonomy at the stroke of the pen instead of by some Shylock-like method of bargaining such as Dr. Mur evidently would wish them to have adopted. It may be added that in this respect Dr. Lur is merely reflecting the attitude of the Japanese Government, The latter was the last to relinquish that hold and did not do so until it had succeeded in wresting enough concessions from China by way of compensation.
Japan has been marked out as a violator of the Nine-Power Treaty and furthermore is being practically summoned to an international conference under its provisions. Naturally she is full of resentment and would like to drag other nations down to her own level, especially the nation which appears to be the cause of her embarrassment. She fails to realize, however, that her attempt will be futile. Let me continue the metaphor employed by one who signs his name as Ticer in his letter to you on the same subject in the October 21 issue of your paper. The naughty child who swoops down upon a playmate for no better reason than that the latter refuses to stand his nonsense would be whipped just the same, even if he should try to insinuate that the playmate was equally naughty.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.