The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-12-01
SHARP ISSUES OF
WORLD DIPL OMACY
The Celebrated shantung Controversy
Takes It's Place at Arms
Conference.

with it some of the sharpest issues Of
world diplomacy, the celebrated Shan
tung controversy took its place today
at the arms conference.
The result was an offer by the United
States and Great Britain. accepted
promptly by Japan and China, to as
sumo the role of friendly advisers in
new attempt to solve the problem
and end the long and bitter debate
that has swept over three continents
The plan for an exercise Of Ameri-
can and British good offices" is I'M
derstood to have originated with the
American delegation after it became
apparent that China had resolved to
raise the question in the conference
proper. Secretary Hughes and Arthur
]. Balfour, as respective heads of the
American and British groups, Will
meet tomorrow with the Japanese and
Chinese to lay the basis of the nego-
tiations.
On the eve Of the first meeting, the
Chinese delegates announced tonight
that they would go into the discussions
prepared to accept nothing less than
unconditional withdrawal of the Jap
anese claims In Shantung. The atti-
LddC VI Jdpdn Was tibl SCI AOt III ~
explicitly but it was assumed the
Japanese spokesman would contend for
the reservation insisted on in the re-
cent diplomatic exchange between To-
Sio and Picking.
The advent of the Shantung question
at the council table followed on the
heels of a debate on the general sub
ject Of maintenance of foreign troops
within Chinese borders. which, in it
self, had brought the conference to a
consideration of some of the serious
factors in Chino Japanese relations.
Speaking for Japan, Vice Foreign Min
lister Hanihara declared withdrawal of
the Japanese troops from several parts
of China outside Shantung must await
definite assurances that the Chinese
authorities would take more effective
steps to maintain order.
At HanSow, said the Japanese dele
gate, reported disorders had justified
Japan in keeping her troops where
they are now stationed. He declared
the garrisons in north China were re-
naming under specific instructions of
the Boxer protocol. and thot those
along the Chinese Eastern railway were
acting under the inter allied agreement
Of 1919. The willingness of Japan to
withdraw her troops from shantung, he
asserted, was dependent on the estab-
Hshment OF an acceptable Chinese po-
lice force
AS a result of the discussion, the
conference postponed its decision until
its next meeting on Friday. Among the
American delegates the belief tonight
was that some general declaration of
principle might be adopted finally, set
ting forth the opinion of the powers
that all foreign troops on Chinese soil
without treaty sanction would be with
drawnsas soon as conditions warrant.
Along with the general subject OF
foreign troops was considered the
problem of foreign Telegraph and radio
facilities which have been installed in
China without her specific consent,
with the argument apparently tending
toward a reference of that feature OF
the negotiations to more general
conference on pacific communications
to be held next year
In it's approach TO the Shantung
problem the conference is said to have
been influenced by many intricate con-
siderations. China's representatives
have Indicated that they wanted the
question raised openly for all of the
nine nations TO debate, and one of the
Chinese delegations, DR.. Wang, de-
clared tonight that the good Offices
negotiations by no means meant that
the subject was outside the confer
ence.' Japan, on the other hand, has
indicated reluctance to debating shan
tung at the regular conference sessions,
because she accepted the invitation to
Washington with the understanding
that specific subjects should be .consid-
cred only by the nations directly
Another complicating circumstance is
that Japan bases her claim to Shan
tung on direct grant contained in
the treaty Of Versailles which has been
ratified By FIVE of the nine nations
represented here, but which China re-
fused to accept because of the shan
tung section. Great Britain, France
and Italy are also parties to the secret i
treaties by which during the war they
promised TO support Japans claim to
the Kai-Chow lease.
Facing this tangled situation, the
American delegation is said to have
felt that the proper way to deal with
the question at the present stage of j
the far eastern negotiations would be
through the tender of good offices"
maintaining laison with the
itsef, it is expected that for
the most part the negotiations viii be
carried on directly between the Chinese
and Japanese delegates. At tomorrow's |
Secretary Hughes and Mr.. |
Balfour are to make preliminary sug-
gestions. but thereafter they may be
represented by authorized spokesman /
at most Of the Japanese Chinese I
meetings.
Japanese delegations vii take part in |
the discussions, DR.. Wang said, al |
though no definite plans may be for
as far as China is concerned, /
at a meeting between Wellington Koo. i
ambassador to Great Britain; Alfred /
SEE. minister to Washington. and Or. I
Wang. the Chinese delegates.