NEWS OF THE WEEK T HE Chinese `Government— that is to
say those who are in power at Peking though their writ runs but a short way—have invited the Powers to a Tariff Conference In accordance with the Washington Treaty. It is pro- posed that the Conference should open on October 2nd. Let us take this as a good sign—the Chinese certainly _ . . are not wasting time now, however-much may have been wasted since 1922. It was understood that the Tariff tenference provided for in the WaShington Treaty should take place within three months after the ratifications of the Treaty had been exchanged. The ratifications were exchanged only a fortnight ago. It will, of course, be said that the Peking Government cannot bind China even if they wished to do so and that no real progress towards a settlement of all the present troubles can be made until China has recovered a recognisable degree of stability. The same argument will be used that was :used about opium—Chinese recovery first, everything else afterwards . * - - *
