THE RIGHTS OF CHINA.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 December 1921, Page 5

THE RIGHTS OF CHINA.

■ GUARANTEE BY POWERS. AGREEMENT REACHED. DECISION OF CONFERENCE. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright, Received Dec. 9, 8.30 p.m, Washington, Dee. 8. Official; The Far Eastern Committee to-day discussed China's third proposal, that the Powers agree not to conclude among themselves a treaty agreement direetly affecting China without previously notifying China and giving her an opportunity to participate. Mr. Wellington Koo (China) pointed out that such agreements fall into two divisions, one mutual engagements to abstain from certain action in special parts of China, and the other engagements of mutual assistance in support of the general interests of all foreign Powers in China, or special interests claimed by the parties to the agreement. Regrrding the first there had been many objections, such as the method of arranging the action of one nation upon the territory of another, involving a national monopoly or preference. China wished all parts to be open to all nations on equal terms. Other group treaties deal with safeguarding and defending territorial rights and special interests in the Far East, sptfially mentioning China. They contained three features, first, a declaration b.y the contracting parties that good order would be maintained; second, a. declaration in support of the independence and integrity of China, maintenance of the open door and aid in defence of special interests; thirdly, the recognition that propinquity creates special relations.• All these features are vital to the- interests- of China, ami the effect of all such agreements was to maintain conditions ffitimfltely affecting the rights, liberty and action of China itself. It appeared, therefore, that the Chinese Government had an equitable right to be consulted oh all agreements dealing with the general situation in the Far East, including China. Even though he was animated entirely by a friendly spirit, Mr. A. J. Balfour (Britain), objected to Mr. Koo’s rplan, which was altoget-her too wide. Everybody sympathised- with China’s aspirations and WAS ‘anxious to remove tlje Jo)normal conditiqris. A better way would be to declare that no one wished to perpetuate a system of splieres of •interest or international understandings, on which they de ponded. All the .Conference could dp was to see that no undue limitations were placed on -China's sovereign mdepende-nee, and give all help He could not believe the Powers would h(?cej»t fhe third point Ttr its entirety. They went much beyond the existing principles of international law. He asked the Chinese not to press the resolut+oH. but to deal with particular evils. The Root resolutions, if sincereTy 'carried out, inrald do nil thnf was k wanted. Mr. C*. E. Hughes (America) agteed xha-t tho nations belonging to the League were bound not to make secret ■‘Fngagrmf'TM'-s. -while t-he United States could not have snggmcti -embodying the resolution. Its intention was not to do anything degrogatory to the principles uWfferlVihg th£ sir Auckland Geddes (Britaih) ifilgAffdiffg nre foHtrwing tn t*e- Moot resolutions: "The PowefS agTCe not to jentpr . into any agreefhent, arrangement. or understanding with one -anet-her. individually er collectively, or with any Power or Powers which mfrThffe dr impair the principles herein decTarcd.” M. Hanihara (Japan) proposed that the Avoiding-of the jwsplution be phrased so that China would also be bound, •ter artron-in the same manner as other Powers.

' M. Vitfiafii (FfaTicC J ami Signor .gclyinzer (Italy) supported th'e British suggestions. Tita resolution,., slightly modified, was adopted as follows: “The Powers attending the Conference —the United StdTe?. HriWn, -Cttilm, France, .Italy.. Spain... tlie Netherlands, and Portugal—declare it their intention not to

pn.ter into any treaty,, agreement, arrangement or understanding, either with Another individually or collectively, with any Power or Powers which will infringe ot impair the -pr in rifles adopted on November 21 and known as the _,Root principles.”