Evening star., 1921-07-22
us. awaits JAPAN
DECISION N0NPARLEY
Advisory Counsel Meets in
Toxic to Settle Part to Be
Taken at Conference.

Officials here were awaiting today
the decision of the advisory council
of Japan. meeting at TOXIC. regard
ing Japanese participation in the
conference on disarmament and Tar
eastern questions.
The American government mas peen
informed that the council Is In ses-
sion, and 1t 10 understood to have
given reason to believe that an agree
ment may be reached to join In the
full d scussion. both limitation of ar
maMent and Pacific problems, al
though possibly with reservations.
Why BelSinm L. barred
The reported insistance Of Belgium
that she be given q seat at the con
mai statement. but 1t 10 known that
the United States government Is con-
scious of no intention to depreciate
tho importance OF that country ana
limited the number of those invited
to the powers dssisnaasd nsiueInsi In the asso
ci.,ed salses' .nd ndessy allied poSers" for Tes-
sons of practicability. 1t was ex-
planned today that to open a con-
ference to one Of the minor powers
would perhaps make 1t necessary to
open It to all ,a,,on II WAS eorid rsdSsshteS sho%
there was no disposition to bar it
Regarding participation by Russia
there appeared no reason to beheve
ed nor a request for participation
would be considered by the United
States. which has no diplomatic re-
lations with the soviet government.
Those in charge of the preliminary
negotiations here have heard with
much interest the suggestion that
some Of the troubles Of the confer
ence might be obviated II such dues-
tions as the disposition of the Pacific
island OF Yap and the control of
Shantung peninsula were settled be-
fore the delegates assemble. Al.
though ohicial comment Is lacking. II
is manifest that such a development
officials and that some steps may be
taken to speed these questions to.
ward solution. ..
It is considered entirely likely that
to this end negotiations regarding Yal
over which Japan was awarded n man
date by the legue of nations. may be
actively resumed in the near future
There already has been some diplo.
matte correspondence on the subject
the United States taking the position
that this and other former German
possessions could not be Disposed OF
without the acquiescence of this gov
ernment. but thus far the negotiations
have been inconclusive.
The shantsnx Issue.
In the case of Shantung the indi.
Gated view Of the State Department
has been that any dispute over SOW
ereignty should be a subject OF nego'
tiation between Japan and China.
Reports have reached here that
Toxic Is ready to undertake such q
negotiation. and 1t would occasion ne
surprise in well informed circles II
China were encouraged to take q
similar attitude. In q broader sense
however, 1t Is held here that the
Shantung question Is one affecting
the integrity Of China and, therefore
is Of some concern to all Of the pow
ers interested in the far-eastern stu
alton.
The view advanced in some Japa
nese quarters that both Yap and
Shantung should be regarded a.
closed Incidents. outside the purview
of the disarmament conferences, ap'
parently has found little supper
here. Consequently both are regard
ed az likely to come before the con
ference unless there Is a solution be-
forehand acceptable to all the nations
interested.
rryccra npn pnrrcu~c nprrScrnAy