Page:The Truth about China and Japan - Weale - 1919.djvu/116

 war against Germany and Austria, China has had charge of all persons of German and Austrian nationality, in spite of the efforts of the Dutch diplomatic and consular representatives (temporarily in charge of German and Austrian interests) to assume jurisdiction. A number of important Germans and Austrians are at the moment of writing held interned by China in special camps; and that China in the treaties of peace with the enemy Powers will insist on retaining at least police jurisdiction over citizens of these nations is quite certain. The Chinese police-system has made such advances during the past decennium that there can be little doubt that so long as appellate courts, with foreign assessors, are provided for, it should be possible to erect a system which will be a half-way house to the total abolition of exterritoriality.

The precise methods are already matters of dispute and can certainly not be settled in any casual manner. Some have proposed that there shall be a probationary ten-year period during which China shall be given a trial. Others have declared that the only method is an extension of the mixed court system, although this system in Shanghai is a lamentable failure. Yet another class declare that no modification is pos-