China, save or except in leased territories or as otherwise specifically rovided by treaty, it is resolved: (1) The four Powers having such postal agencies agree to their bandonment subject to the following conditions: (a) That an efficient Chinese postal service is maintained; (b) That an assurance is given by the Chinese Government that hey contemplate no change in the present postal administration so ar as the status of the foreign Co-Director General is concerned. (2) To enable China and the Powers concerned to make the necesary dispositions, this arrangement shall come into force and effect ot later than January 1, 1923. B. Pending the complete withdrawal of foreign postal agencies, he four Powers concerned severally undertake to afford full facilities o the Chinese customs authorities to examine in those agencies all Dostal matter (excepting ordinary letters, whether registered or not, which upon external examination appear plainly to contain only written matter) passing through them, with a view to ascertaining whether they contain articles which are dutiable or contraband or which otherwise contravene the customs regulations or laws of China. Adopted by the Conference on the Limitation of Armament at the Fifth Plenary Session February 1st, 1922. Whereas 1922. RESOLUTION REGARDING ARMED FORCES IN CHINA. Adopted at Washington February 1, 1922. The Powers have from time to time stationed armed forces, including police and railway guards, in China to protect the lives and property of foreigners lawfully in China;" And whereas It appears that certain of these armed forces are maintained in China without the authority of any treaty or agreement; And whereas The Powers have declared their intention to withdraw their armed forces now on duty in China without the authority of any treaty or agreement, whenever China shall assure the protection of the lives and property of foreigners in China; And whereas China has declared her intention and capacity to assure the protection of the lives and property of foreigners in China; Now To the end that there may be clear understanding of the conditions upon which in each case the practical execution of those intentions must depend; It is resolved: That the Diplomatic Representatives in Pekin of the Powers now in Conference at Washington, to wit, the United States of America, Belgium, the British Empire, France, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands and Portugal, will be instructed by their respective Governments, whenever China shall so request, to associate themselves with three representatives of the Chinese Government to conduct collectively a 29479-S. Doc. 348, 67-443 full and impartial inquiry into the issues raised by the foregoing declarations of intention made by the Powers and by China a shall thereafter prepare a full and comprehensive report setting ot without reservation their findings of fact and their opinion with regard to the matter hereby referred for inquiry, and shall furnish a copy of their report to each of the nine Governments concerned which shall severally make public the report with such comment as eac may deem appropriate. The representatives of any of the Powers may make or join in minority reports stating their differences, if any. from the majority report. That each of the Powers above named shall be deemed free to accept or reject all or any of the findings of fact or opinions expressed in the report but that in no case shall any of the said Powers make its acceptance of all or any of the findings of fact or opinions either directly or indirectly dependent on the granting by China of any special concession, favor, benefit or immunity, whether political or economic. Adopted by the Conference on the Limitation of Armament at the Fifth Penary Session, February 1st, 1922. 1922. RESOLUTION REGARDING UNIFICATION OF RAILWAYS IN CHINA AND ACCOMPANYING DECLARATION BY CHINA. Adopted at Washington February 1, 1922. The Powers represented in this Conference record their hope that to the utmost degree consistent with legitimate existing rights, the future development of railways in China shall be so conducted ato enable the Chinese Government to effect the unification of railways into a railway system under Chinese control, with such foreign financial and technical assistance as may prove necessary in the interests of that system. Adopted by the Conference on the Limitation of Armament a the Fifth Plenary Session February 1st, 1922. STATEMENT REGARDING Chinese RAILWAYS MADE ON JANUARY 19, 192, BY THE CHINESE DELEGATION.1 The Chinese Delegation notes with sympathetic appreciation the expression of the hope of the Powers that the existing and future railways of China may be unified under the control and operation of the Chinese Government with such foreign financial and technical assistance as may be needed. It is our intention as speedily a possible to bring about this result. It is our purpose to develop existing and future railways in accordance with a general programme that will meet the economic, industrial and commercial requirements of China. It will be our policy to obtain such foreign financial and technical assistance as may be needed from the Powers in accordance with the principles of the Open Door or equal opportunity; and the friendly support of these Powers will be asked for The declaration was made in the twenty-first meeting of committee on Pacifle and far eastern questions. the effort of the Chinese Government to bring all the railways of China, now existing or to be built, under its effective and unified control and operation. 1922. RESOLUTION REGARDING THE REDUCTION OF CHINESE MILITARY FORCES. Adopted at Washington February 1, 1922. Whereas the Powers attending this Conference have been deeply impressed with the severe drain on the public revenue of China through the maintenance in various parts of the country, of military forces, excessive in number and controlled by the military chiefs of the provinces without coordination, And whereas the continued maintenance of these forces appears to be mainly responsible for China's present unsettled political conditions, And whereas it is felt that large and prompt reductions of these forces will not only advance the cause of China's political unity and economic development but will hasten her financial rehabilitation: Therefore, without any intention to interfere in the internal problems of China, but animated by the sincere desire to see China develop and maintain for herself an effective and stable government alike in her own interest and in the general interest of trade; And being inspired by the spirit of this Conference whose aim is to reduce, through the limitation of armament, the enormous disbursements which manifestly constitute the greater part of the encumbrance upon enterprise and national prosperity; It is resolved: That this Conference express to China the earnest hope that immediate and effective steps may be taken by the Chinese Government to reduce the aforesaid military forces and expenditures. Adopted by the Conference on the Limitation of Armament at the Fifth Plenary Session, February 1st, 1922. 1922. RESOLUTION REGARDING EXISTING COMMITMENTS OF CHINA OR WITH RESPECT TO CHINA. Adopted at Washington February 1, 1922. The Powers represented in this Conference, considering it desirable that there should hereafter be full publicity with respect to all matters affecting the political and other international obligations of China and of the several Powers in relation to China, are agreed as follows: I. The several Powers other than China will at their earliest convenience file with the Secretariat General of the Conference for transmission to the participating Powers, a list of all treaties, conventions, exchange of notes, or other international agreements which they may have with China, or with any other Power or Powers in relation to China, which they deem to be still in force and upon which they may desire to rely. In each case, citations will be given to any official or other publication in which an authoritative text of the documents may be found. In any case in which the document may not have been published, a copy of the text (in its original language or languages) will be filed with the Secretariat General of the Conference. Every Treaty or other international agreement of the character described which may be concluded hereafter shall be notified by the Governments concerned within sixty (60) days of its conclusion to the Powers who are signatories of or adherents to this agreement. II. The several Powers other than China will file with the Secretariat General of the Conference at their earliest convenience for transmission to the participating Powers a list, as nearly complete as may be possible, of all those contracts between their nationals, of the one part, and the Chinese Government or any of its administrative subdivisions or local authorities, of the other part, which involve any concession, franchise, option or preference with respect to railway construction, mining, forestry, navigation, river conservancy, harbor works, reclamation, electrical communications. or other public works or public services, or for the sale of arms or ammunition, or which involve a lien upon any of the public revenues or properties of the Chinese Government or of any of its administrative subdivisions. There shall be, in the case of each document so listed, either a citation to a published text, or a copy of the text itself. Every contract of the public character described which may be concluded hereafter shall be notified by the Governments concerned within sixty (60) days after the receipt of information of its conclusion to the Powers who are signatories of or adherents to this agreement. III. The Chinese Government agrees to notify in the conditions laid down in this agreement every treaty agreement or contract of the character indicated herein which has been or may hereafter be concluded by that Government or by any local authority in China with any foreign Power or the nationals of any foreign Power whether party to this agreement or not, so far as the information is in its possession. IV. The Governments of Powers having treaty relations with China, which are not represented at the present Conference, shall be invited to adhere to this agreement. The United States Government, as convenor of the Conference, undertakes to communicate this agreement to the Governments of the said Powers, with a view to obtaining their adherence thereto as soon as possible. Adopted by the Conference on the Limitation of Armament at the Fifth Plenary Session February 1st, 1922. 1922. RESOLUTION REGARDING RADIO STATIONS IN CHINA AND ACCOMPANYING DECLARATIONS. Adopted at Washington February 1, 1922. The representatives of the Powers hereinafter named participating in the discussion of Pacific and Far Eastern questions in the Conference on the Limitation of Armament-to wit: The United States of America, Belgium, The British Empire, China, France, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands and Portugal, Have resolved 1. That all radio stations in China whether maintained under the provisions of the international protocol of September 7, 1901, or in fact maintained in the grounds of any of the foreign legations in China, shall be limited in their use to sending and receiving government messages and shall not receive or send commercial or personal or unofficial messages, including press matter: Provided, however, that in case all other telegraphic communication is interrupted, then, upon official notification accompanied by proof of such interruption to the Chinese Ministry of Communications, such stations may afford temporary facilities for commercial, personal or unofficial messages, including press matter, until the Chinese Government has given notice of the termination of the interruption; 2. All radio stations operated within the territory of China by a foreign government or the citizens or subjects thereof under treaties or concessions of the Government of China, shall limit the messages sent and received by the terms of the treaties or concessions under which the respective stations are maintained; 3. In case there be any radio station maintained in the territory of China by a foreign government or citizens or subjects thereof without the authority of the Chinese Government, such station and all the plant, apparatus and material thereof shall be transferred to and taken over by the Government of China, to be operated under the direction of the Chinese Ministry of Communications upon fair and full compensation to the owners for the value of the installation, as soon as the Chinese Ministry of Communications is prepared to operate the same effectively for the general public benefit: 4. If any questions shall arise as to the radio stations in leased. territories, in the South Manchurian Railway Zone or in the French. Concession at Shanghai, they shall be regarded as matters for discussion between the Chinese Government and the Government concerned. 5. The owners or managers of all radio stations maintained in the territory of China by foreign powers or citizens or subjects thereof shall confer with the Chinese Ministry of Communications for the purpose of seeking a common arrangement to avoid interference in the use of wave lengths by wireless stations in China, subject to such general arrangements as may be made by an international conference convened for the revision of the rules established by the International Radio Telegraph Convention signed at London, July 5, 1912.2 1 For text see Vol. II, p. 2006. 2 For text, p. 3048. |