Washington Conference.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 January 1922, Page 3

Washington Conference.

(From the Special Representative of the Australian Press Association.)

JAPAN’S DECISION

TOKIO, Jan. 5

Cabinet lias deckled that Japan will maintain the position that the disagreement over the submarine tonnage at Washington in no way affects the decisions readied regarding the capital ship tonnage.' It is also announced that Cabinet decided .against Japan yielding any additional ground in the Shitntung' controversy with China. Any attempt to resume negotiations \vith China will be made at Peking, not at Washington.

AGAINST ALLIANCES. WASHINGTON, Jab. 5 The tenderness of certain schools of American politics on the subject of entangling alliances is exemplified again to-dsly in the comment on a perfectly obvious provision in the naval treaty dealing With the situation arising if any signatory Power becomes involved in the war with a non-signatory Power. Commentators profess to see therein another subtle attempt on the part of European statesmen to drag the United States into Old World politics. All sorts of dismal prognostications are made as to the result. It is possible that all the provision will do will lie to allow the Power attacked to retire from the treaty., and take such measures as may be necessary for defence. IMPR OVED REL ATT. ONS. NEW YORK, Jan. 5. Prince Tokugawa addressed the Chamber of Commerce, and declared that the five Power treaty being draftel at Washington was the greatest pledge for peace ever concluded. He said the achievements of the conference were especially important to the United States and Japan, because the frank dibcussion had cleared away distrust and suspicion.

RAISING CHINESE REVENUE

WASHINGTON, Jan. 5. An official report on the latest meeting of the Committee on the Pacific and Far Eastern problems has been issued. It affirms, that Senator Underwood (U.S.A.) presented a report from the Sub-committee on the Chinese Customs, recommending a meeting of a Customs Revision Committee at Shanghai forthwith, to revise the present Chinese tariff on the basis of a five per cent duty. This revised tariff should become effective within lour months, the new duties coming into force two months after their publication. This will provide an additional 17,000,000 dollars revenue. It is urged that immediate steps be taken for the holding of a special conference ■to provide for the imposition of a surtax or a two avid one half per cent ad valorem, thus securing an additional 27,000,000 dollars, and also a special surtax on luxuries, not to exceed five per cent, providing another 2,000,000 dollars. The total additional revenue would thus.be 46,000,000 dollars. The Conference will also prepare the way for the abolition of the Likin Tax. bringing into effect a surtax agreed ■'upon between Japan and the United States for the years 1922-23. With the completion of- the work of the Special Conference, the application of all the surtaxes, and the abolition of the Likin Tax, the additional -revenue should amount to 156,000,000 dollars. The present Chinese Customs revenue is 64,000,000 dollars. It will be increased to 110,000,000 dollars immediately that arrangements are completed for making effective the five per cent and the imposition of the 2* and fi\ 5 e per cent surtaxes. The recommendations made provide also for periodical tariff revising, and the recognition of the principle of uniformity in taxes on all frontiers. It is urged that there be an agreement to over-ride all the provisions in the existing Treaty between China and the Powers.

China has submitted a communication agreeing not to disturb the present administration of the Chinese Customs. The report finally recommended the adoption of a friendly recommendation to China that immediate and effective steps he taken to reduce the present military forces. CHINA’S REAL NEED. WASHINGTON, Jan. 5. Doctor Wellington Koo issued a statement regretting that the Committee lias not bestowed tariff autonomy on China. The present tariff arrangements, he says, mean a serious loss to China owing to the lowness of the Customs rates allowed her, as compared with those imposed by other countries.

Dr Koo maintained that a restoration of tariff autonomy is necessary before China can expand and develop. He declared that the interests of the Treaty Powers have been placed beforethe legitimate interests of China. “In view of the inherent difficulty and injustice of the present regime, and of the wholesome and desirable effect which, a restoration of tariff autonomy would have,” he adds, “the Chinese delegation felt bound to declare they have no desire in assenting to this agreement to relinquish their claim for autonomy. On the contrary, they intend to bring the question up on all . appropriate occasions.” W JAPAN AND CHINA. WASHINGTON, Jan. 6. China has advanced somewhat on her previous offers to-day. She now wants to purchase the Shantung railway for cash, but is willing to employ * a Japanese as Traffic Manager, and other Japanese as administrative officers over a. period of years. • The Chinese have left the Gomelence however, being determined to ask for the mediation of Mr Hughes and Mr Balfour if the Japantse refuse to accept at to-morrow’s -meeting. It is believed the Japanese aie anxious to have some supervision over the line, and may concede financial arrangements if she is sure that her nationals are to be represented on the staff as in the ease of the post offices.