The Future of Foreign Concessions in China

Abstract

.ALTHOUGH completely ignored in the present conflict between Japan and China, a contributing factor has, in all probability, been Chinese resentment over the question of the Settlements and Concessions held by various foreign Governments, including Japan, which in conjunction with corollary privileges of tariff control and extraterritoriality constitute a denial of Chinese sovereignty over territories ostensibly their own. To some extent, therefore, in their hatred for the Japanese there is doubtless considerable anger against the entire system of imperialistic enterprise as practiced in China, with its implied stigma of racial inferiority and backwardness. As a matter of fact, since the Shanghai Incident of I925 this privileged position of foreign has been the object of outright challenge by nationalistic elements in China, and in certain instances retrocession of has been secured. The determination of the Chinese Government to effect this return has become so strong as to raise the question whether here as well Western enterprise is not on the way out. In the past year of the Sino-Japanese conflict there has been considerable sympathy in the Occident for China as the under-dog in the struggle against the stronger Japan. Therefore, as a logical sequitur it would appear only natural to expect, if China emerges successful from the present conflict and proceeds to put its house in order, that the Western Powers will translate their former sympathy into concrete terms by the voluntary surrender of present holdings, including claims to special rights and privileges, to the Chinese Government. Of course, it might be added that it is very surprising that no action of this kind has been taken up to this time. The cry in China for the recovery of interests has gone on for more than a quarter of a century, and was a contributory factor in the fall of the Manchu dynasty in i9ii. However, no definite