500.A 4 e/469: Telegram
The American Delegation to the Secretary of State
[Received November 19.]
Conference summary number 6. Following is the press communiqué issued by the conference today:
“Committee two of the Special Conference on Chinese Customs held its fourth meeting at Chu Jen Tang on Thursday, November 19, 1925, at 10 a.m.
Dr. C. T. Wang was in the chair and all the members were present.
The committee, sitting jointly as committees one and two, adopted the resolution on tariff autonomy unanimously recommended by the subcommittee, which reads as follows:
‘The delegates of the powers assembled at this conference resolve to adopt the following proposed article relating to tariff autonomy with a view to incorporating it together with other matters to be hereafter agreed upon in the treaty which is to be signed at this conference:
The contracting powers other than China hereby recognize China’s right to enjoy tariff autonomy, agree to remove the tariff restrictions which are contained in existing treaties between themselves respectively and China, and consent to the going into effect of the Chinese national tariff law January 1st, 1929.
The Govt, of the Republic of China declares that likin shall be abolished simultaneously with the enforcement of the Chinese national tariff law and further declares that the abolition of likin [Page 882] shall be effectively carried out by the first day of the first month of the eighteenth year of the Republic of China (January 1st, 1929).’
A general discussion took place on the subjects of the purposes for which the proceeds of the surtaxes were to be devoted and the rates of the surtaxes. It was decided to appoint two subcommittees: one on purposes and another on rates.
Subsequently the committee resolved itself into the subcommittee on purposes and it was decided to appoint two technical committees: one on likin and another on other purposes.
The meeting adjourned at 12:15 subject to the call of the Chair.”