The Washington herald., 1921-12-02
Plan of ProcedureyAgreed
On at Opening of Con-
versations. ."
DETAIL MEETING
THIS AFTERNOON
Hughes and Balfour Aid
Start and Far-Reaching
Good Is Expected.

Japan and China are working out
their own solution OF the Shantung
question. II they can succeed. one
Of the biggest forward steps toward
peace in the Far East will have
been accomplished. The start was
made yesterday afternoon. The
chief delegates from the two pow
ers got together in the Pan Amerl-
can Building and, after a discussion
OF an hour and a half. agreed upoa
plans Of procedure. They hope t.
take up the actual problems when
they resume their sessions tomor-
row.
The Importance OF this conference
which is entirely outside Of he
general Limitation Of arms confer
ence, 'can hardly be exaggerated.
II the japanese and Chinese can
reach an agreement il will be re-
fiected in all Of the future proceed
ings OF the general committee on
the problems OF the Pacific and %
the Far East II they cannot reach
an agreement, then the Chinese rep
sesentation declares that il will
throw the entire subject into the
general conference and demand that
the powers now represented heTy
take issue directly between Japan
and China. Such a development
would result in future trouble n.
indeed, it did not actually breaA Up
the present conference.
Congratulated on Efforts.
In order TO get the representa-
tives Of the two powers of 90
good start. Secretary OF State
Hughes and Arthur J. Bslfour sat
in at the outset. Each made a
speech in which he congratulated
the Representatives OF the two pow
ers on having agreed to endcsvor
to reach a settlement by direct ne
gotiations. They expressed the hope
that an early, just and perfectly
happy solution of the problem
would be arrived at. II WAS made
very plain to each side that such
a solution would be extremely sr-
ceptable to the other nations. BarD~
Kato and Minister Sze acknowt-
edged the obligation OF their Couu
tries to the American and British
delegates for their tenders Of good
offices. Then Bslfour and Hugh-s
withdrew and the conference con-
tinued
While both Hughes and Balfour
assured the Oriental representa-
tIves that they would be happy 10
. return whenever they were needed.
the actual work Of reconCilinS the
! conversations has been delegated TO
experts representing Great Britain
and japan. They will sit in on all
meetings. and when differences 81
+ opinion seem to threaten they will
4 try 10 offer suggestions that viii
make for harmony.
Opening Of Negotiations
The official compuuiquc issued
covering the proceedings follows:
The conversations between the
Chinese and japanese delegates re-
lating to the Shantung question.
arranged through the good Offices
Of Mr.. Hughes and Mr.. BalfoUr.
commenced this afternoon al 8
o'clock in the conference room OF
the Pan American Building.
The meeting on the part Of China
was attended by pr. Sze. Dr. kou
and Dr. Wang. accompanied hy Nj
Tyau. Gen. Wang. Mr.. Hsu. M-
Cho and Mr.. kuO. on the part -
Japan by Baron Kato. Mr. Hanihara.
Mr.. DebuChi. accompanied by Nj
Saburi. Mr.. Kimura. Mr. Saito and
Mr.. Shiratori Mr.. Hughes and Nj.
Balfour. accompanied by Sir John
. Jordan. Miles Lampson. J. Y A
/ MacMurray and Edward Bell. opened
the meeting and retired. leaving
/ the abCve-named American and
/ British representatives to assist at
] the sessions
The meeting discussed question.
Of procedure and decided to issue a
communique at the end Of each
/ meeting The next medetinC will
/ be held in the same building al
! $3.50 p. m. Friday next"
Up TO the present time il has been
/ impossible for the representatives
OF the two powers to deveIop tho
general points in the Shantuu-
matter that will prove most con-
] troversial. This probably will some
/ today, when the Chinese will AT
tempt to limit the conversations To
incidental facts As already pointed
out in these dispatches, the Chinese
insist that Japan has no right To-
retain Shantung and that will b..
the contention of their delegation
right from the outset The Jana
nese will not disclose their position
until after China has Joined m.
issues and outlined her complete
! case