The Chinese leaders made a bid to free themselves from foreign control at Washington Conference of 1921 when they made an appeal for the restoration of territorial integrity, political and administrative independence.
They appealed to the powers to forego their claims to special interests and undertake not to make any further encroachment on Chinese sovereignty. China also insisted on an assurance that in future no treaties concerning China would be made without Chinese participation.
Though these demands of China were not accepted by the Nine-Power Treaty which was concluded as a result of these deliberations, assured sovereignty, independence and territorial as well as administrative integrity to China.
The Nine Powers agreed to help China to develop and maintain an effective and stable government. They accepted the principle of equal opportunity for the commerce and industry of all nations throughout the territory of China and undertook not to enter into, any treaty or agreement with any power which infringed the above principles.
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The powers agreed to respect China’s neutral position in future wars and agreed to make public all agreements and contracts involving “any concession, franchise, option or preference concerning railways, mines, forests, navigation rights, river conservancy, harbour works of public services or for sale of arms or ammunitions or which involves a lien on public revenues and properties.”
In addition to these concessions under the Nine-Power Treaty, China succeeded in securing the abandonment of foreign jurisdiction over all the electrical means of communication, including radio stations.
With regard to the termination of treaty tariff, extra-territoriality, leases and spheres of interests, China was able to achieve only partial success. Though the powers refused to concede autonomy in tariff to China and insisted upon the retention of the customs administration, they promised an immediate revision of the tariff rates.
With regard to the Chinese demand for termination of extra-territoriality, the powers agreed to appoint a commission to look into the prevailing practice of extra-territorial jurisdiction in China and to make necessary recommendations for reforms with a view to relinquishing extra-territoriality.
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Even after the Washington Conference China continued to insist on restoration of tariff autonomy and abolition of extra-territoriality but much progress could not be made due to lack of agreement among all powers. In the meanwhile, the anti-foreign feeling grew strong in China and demand for a firmer action was made.
When the treaties with Belgium, France, Japan and Spain came for revision or renewal, the Chinese announced the termination of the old treaties and assumption of jurisdiction over the foreigners pending conclusion of new treaties.