The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-11-25
Nations Agree "In Principle"
Extra Territorial Rights Wrong
Farley May Adjourn in Two
Weeks for Christmas Recess.
CANNOT GET ANY ACTION
Cloud of Pessimism Now Hangs
Over Washington.
British Block Chief Demand
Made by OrientaIs.

washington NOV ZO."AppOlnE-
ment of a subcommittee headed by
Senator Lodge of the American dele
CATION to consider the question of
extra-territorial rights in China was
authorized today by the Pacific and
Tar Eastern committee of the Wash
1ngton conference.
The decision was reached by the
conference powers. meeting in secret
session here today, following another
decision that the system of extra ter
ritoriality imposed on China by the
treaty powers is wrong and should be
abolished.
The extra territoriality system un
der which foreign nations have set up
their own courts and exercised juris-
dictio1 over their own nationals on
Chinese soil, will not be abolished i'm
mediately, but an agreement was
reached that It will gradually be aban-
doned as China displays an ability to
handle such matters herself.
Approved ''In Principle"
resolution was drawn up and ap-
proved "in principle" by all the pow
ers assembled, it was learned after
speeches had been made defining each
nations position on the question.
Spokesmen for the Chinese delegation
made a long ardent plea for the aboli-
tiOu of the system.
Today's decision constitutes at least
a moral victory for the Chinese
They pleaded for the abolition of t G
sy tcm al Paris and were turned down.
The results of the declsi' n, Lowever,
viii not be apparent at once, 1t is un-
derstood. While agreeing 10 the prin-
ciple OF abolition of the system, the
powers concerned will make an in
vestigation of China's who're judicial
system before actually giving up the
right to try their own nationals before
their own consuls and judges.
May Adjourn for Xmas.
Belief was gaining ground today
among the foreign delegations the ar
mament and far eastern conference
might adjourn the first fortnight Of
December to give time to the delegates
to go home for Christmas
For the first time since the states
men of the world began their labors
here two weeks ago, a distinct atmos-
phere Of pessimism hung over the
Washington conference when it re-
sumed its work today after the Thanks
giving recess.
The first flush of enthusiasm and
general optimism that followed the
startling presentation of the American
naval program has been dispelled by
the controversial factors that have
arisen as the powers got down to the
hard task of translating words into
action.
Generous With Words Only.
The pessimistic outlook is shared by
many observers in Washington and by
not a few of the delegates themselves.
A member of the American delegation
summed up the situation privately to
FNr- WroTTg.
with words, but with action it is
horse Of a different color"
Briefly the results Of the two weeks
efforts are these:
Armament.
The powers have agreed in ''princi-
ple'' to the vast scrapping and future
building program laid down by Sec
retary Hughes, but England and ia
pan are still quibbling over the de-
tails. Japan wants more gross tom
mage than allowed by the American
program; England wants more cru.s-
ers and the abolition of the subma-
rines.
It has been agreed that the confer
ence will take no action with respect
to limiting the standing armies of Eu-
rope.
Far Eastern Affairs.
All the powers have expressed SYM
pathy with China's aims and have
adopted four general principles to ap-
ply to China. They are so vaguely
phrased that they are being inter-
preted differently by each of the
powers.
subcommittee of nine has been
appointed to examine Chinas tariff
schedule and it is virtually certain
that she will be allowed to raise her
duties from 5 per cent to 12h per
cent
So far as the naval program is con-
cerned. there is little pessimism
Ultimately, it is believed that the
terms as laid down by Secretary
Hughes will be submitted in substan-
tally the same form as they are now
on. On this point the American atti-
tude is adamantic. The impression
has been defiritely conveyed to both
Great Britain ana Japan that the pro-
gram proposed by America hits
America harder than it does either
Japan or Great Britain, and that it is
up to them TO either accept it or re-
ject it.
China Gets Setbacks.
It is in the Far East part of the con-
ference that the deepest pessinism
prevails. The Chinese delegates who
came to Washington with high hopes
of seeing their country liberated from
the dominance Of foreign interests, are
frankly discouraged. Already there IS
talk heard in Chinese quarters of the
Washington conference being a "repe-
tition of Paris" Also there is talk
heard of going home"
China has been getting a success
sion of shocks behind the closed doors
OF the Pan-American building The
first came when their ten principles
were turned down as the result of
British and japanese opposition. They