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the conditions upon which in each case the practical execution of those intentions must depend;

It is resolved:

That the Diplomatic Representatives in Peking 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 full and impartial enquiry into the issues raised by the foregoing declarations of intention made by the Powers and by China and shall thereafter prepare a full and comprehensive report setting out without reservation their findings of fact and their opinion with regard to the matter hereby referred for enquiry, 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 each 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, favour, benefit or immunity, whether political or economic.

Adopted by the Conference on the Limitation of Armament at the Fifth Plenary session, the 1st February, 1922.

RESOLUTION adopted by the Conference on the Limita

tion of Armament (representing Great Britain, Belgium, China, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Portugal and the United States of America) regarding Radio Stations in China and accompanying Declarations.— 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

Parliamentary Paper. "Miscellaneous, No. 1 (1922).”

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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 the 7th September, 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 Governments 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

* Vol. XCIV. page 686.

by the International Radio Telegraph Convention signed at London, the 5th July, 1912.* Adopted by the Conference on the Limitation of Armament at the Fifth Plenary Session, the 1st February, 1922.

Declaration concerning the Resolution on Radio Stations in China of December 7, 1921.

The Powers other than China declare that nothing in paragraphs 3 or 4 of the resolution of the 7th December, 1921, is to be deemed to be an expression of opinion by the Conference as to whether the stations referred to therein are or are not authorised by China.

They further give notice that the result of any discussion arising under paragraph 4 must, if it is not to be subject to objection by them, conform with the principles of the Open Door, or equality of opportunity, approved by the Conference.

Chinese Declaration concerning Resolution of December 7 regarding Radio Stations in China.

The Chinese Delegation takes this occasion formally to declare that the Chinese Government does not recognise or concede the right of any foreign Power or of the nationals thereof to install or operate, without its express consent, radio stations in legation grounds, settlements, concessions, leased territories, railway areas or other similar areas.

RESOLUTION adopted by the Conference on the Limita

tion of Armament (representing Great Britain, Belgium, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Portugal and the United States of America) regarding Unification of Railways in China and accompanying Declaration by China. -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 as to enable the Chinese Government to effect the unification of railways into a railway system under Chinese control, with such foreign financial and

* Vol. CV, page 219.

+ I... Resolution regarding Radio Stations of February 1, 1922. Parliamentary Paper, Miscellaneous, No. 1 (1922).'

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technical assistance as may prove necessary in the interests of that system.

Adopted by the Conference on the Limitation of Armament at the Fifth Plenary Session, the 1st February, 1922.

Statement regarding Chinese Railways, made on January 19, 1922, by the Chinese Delegation.

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 as 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 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.

RESOLUTION adopted by the Conference on the Limita

tion of Armament (representing Great Britain, Belgium, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Portugal and the United States of America) regarding the Reduction of Chinese Military Forces.-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 co-ordination;

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

Parliamentary Paper, "Miscellaneous, No. 1 (1922)."

*

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, the 1st February, 1922.

RESOLUTION adopted by the Conference on the Limita

tion of Armament (representing Great Britain, Belgium, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Portugal and the United States of America) regarding existing Commitments of China or with respect to China.-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:

1. 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

Parliamentary Paper, "Miscellaneous, No. 1 (1922)."

*

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