The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-26
BIG THINGS
PENDING AT
ARMS MEET
Important Decisions Com.
ing This Week, Law
renee Says.
By DAVID LAWRENCE.
Copyright, 1929
,.-,;oI 10 The ArRuS

washington, Dec. 26.-Just as in
40 last lap OF the Paris peace con-
.srsnce public interest seemed to
s.ns and the most important de-
.;sions were being made, so at the
Tsshington conference the really
s-nortant stage of negotiations has
ssen reached at a time when the
.,onotouy OF diplomacy has
.sached an anticlimaX to the dra-
,siic moments of the opening ses-
sions. .
The truth is the Washington
conference has arrived at the final
sagp when accomplishment of far
,aaching Importance is close at
hand. The spectacular and the
sramatic have gone by but the de-
,isions being made in the holiday
week will transcend in effect the
esrlier discussions and proposals.
! rer the Washington conference IS
sbout to complete the essential part
a program. The following can be
npected to materialize within the
4 uext 10 days:
Five Essential Problems.
4 Frst-A complete agreement on
4 imitation OF battleships and on a
4 nraI holiday of ten years. The
4 nbmarine issue is causing the
nnal amount of debate and Will
hks a little time to settle but 1t
VII be settled satisfactorily.
4 Second, the conversations be-
tween Japan and China relating to
aantung give fair promise of ad-
hstment through the purchase by
q Chinese of certain railroad rights
4 N Shantung.
i Third, the Chinese-Japanese
uestion will be embodied in set
Il d principles to be carried out by
International commissions.
Fourth, the matter of land arm
ments will be disposed of by a
sneral resolution expressing the
hope that the major powers may
A mite in reducing financial burdens
Ig removing the causes for land
ornaments. It will be the express
Il son OF hope rather than a direct
n Ok specific recommendation.
4 Fifth, the question of Japanese
vithdrawal from Siberia will be
urged by the United States. The
4 altitude of the Japanese is not YET
hown- But based upon the rec
I'D In the case, there seems no real
rsason for japanese occupation OF
&Gian territory.
u French Delay Program.
L Rhad been hoped that plenary
session Of the conference might be
bad on the day before Christmas
90 as 10 give the American people
% yule-tide gift the formal
4 rreement to stop naval building
tw 10 years. But the French at
unde on capital ships took up So
nsch time in negotiation that try
they might to make speed the
seegates had to abandon the idea
but for New Years day the public
nay expect a complete agreement
all naval issues.
As for the conversation abou
santnng, the Japanese representa-
ives here started the discussion
Hnout Instructions from Toxic
" E1tn the assent of the foreign
@ce so as to see how far opinion
hsnt be developed toward al
Feement The Japanese asket
9at the Chinese retain certain Jap
.asse employees. To this the Chi
sse returned a negative answer a.
~! did to successive proposals o
loan by Japanese bankers to hell
ae Chinese pay for the railroad il
WESTON. The Chinese again re
Used and said they would have IA
cncaity in raising a loan anon!
alnese bankers.
4 now does it happen" asked tn
.apanese. that you are 80 ready Z
~ millions of dollars for the rail
osa IN Shantung when you haven
hans," ~
On, for such a purpose, gettint
autung back" replied the Chi
our bankers will come 10
"a gladly with funds"
A hait Word From Toxic.
% tne whole question has bee
rren to Toxic in the form c
Se proposals and some decis
lays. u ~
as Tor Siberia, It will prove large
matter between the Unite
eS and Japan. These two cour
@ entered Siberia together dun
ae war but while the Japanes
ised TO withdraw when tn
icans did. it developed that tn
p2hese found excuses for a prt
stay. The northern half {
~, ~ russian island of Sakhalin
occupied by the Japanese as
Plssl against the massacre
aAln Japanese in Siberia tn
panese have said they intende
say there. This, however,
y how leased territories an
efes Of Influence originated an
powers are not disposed at tn
80 10 put an end to the existin
ses while sanctioning new an
euons OF Russian territory G
Chita Causes Trouble.
me republic OF Chfta, which h;
yet been recognized, has sci
.sarfes to obtain a hearing bl
Ar as tha limited cSfafaS fs co1