693.003/812: Telegram
The Chargé in China (Mayer) to the
Secretary of State
Peking,
March 17,
1928—2 p.m.[Received March 17—12:50
p.m.
76]
170. Following from Shanghai:
“59, March 15, 8 p.m. Today’s foreign press published Kuo Min
News Agency report of regulations promulgated by Government
counsel yesterday and immediately effective in reference to
duties of National Tariff Committee of Nationalist Government.
These regulations inter alia contain
following provisions:
- ‘Article 1. This committee created for the purpose
of hastening and realizing tariff autonomy shall be
known as the National Tariff Committee.
- Article 2. The committee shall consist of a
limited number of members to be appointed by the
Nationalist Government. The Ministers of Finance,
Foreign Affairs, Industry and Commerce,
Communications, and the directors of the Auditing
Department and the Customs Administration being
members of the committee ipso
facto.
- Article 3. The committee shall be presided over by
a chairman, with the Minister of Finance
concurrently acting as such.
- Article 4. The committee shall establish three
sections, etc.:
- (a)
- The first section shall take charge of the
nationalist [national]
tariff schedule; the revision of the tariff
schedule; and all affairs not pertaining to these
conditions [the second] and
third section[s].
- (b)
- The second section shall take charge of
reorganization of the national loans; and
abolition of likin and increase of the
tariff.
- (c)
- The third section shall take charge of
tariff policy; deposit of the cash loans reserved;
and all matters relating to the organization and
regulations of the Custom Administration.
- Article 5. All resolutions of the committee shall
be executed upon approval by the Nationalist
Government.
- Article 6. The committee shall be authorized to
invite explain [invite and
engage] such Chinese and foreign tariff
experts as may be needed to form [a] technical
committee to investigate and discuss various
technical matters as they may arise. Members of the
technical committee whenever called upon for
consultation may attend meetings of the members of
the committee to explain their
recommendations.
- Article 7. The committee shall appoint a private
secretary and other secretaries and staff member[s]
as may be required.’”
