The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1921-11-17
BY GEORGE r. HOLMES

,lsTAEE CORRESPONDENT I. N. sERyIcEl
| WASHINGTON, Nov. 17.-Behlnd
the great bronze doors of the Pan
American building. symbol of peace
and justice among nations, and screen
ed away from the gaze Of press and
public. the powers today began set
| 1lifg the fate of China.
| Before them was a new Chinese "blll
| Of rlghts"-ten general principles, the
practical application Of which would
make the great celestial reoubiie Of
the far east once more nation freed
from foreign greed and aggression
The fate of China which is woven
so intricately into the whole fabric %
the far eastern questions. is the most
delicate of all the questions which the
powers win be called upon to settle
here. 1t is the most prolific of dis
pute and dissension among the pow
ers assembled and for this reason it is
being taken up behind closed doors.
While the diplomats OF the nine ma
tions were thus engaged in seeking
a solution of the troublesome issues
Of the orient. the committee of ad-
mirals" of the five major powers were
meeting privately to endeavor to
reach an agreement on the details Of
Secretary of State Hughes program
VI al liiliAdtiRA.
The policy of concurrent -considera-
tion of naval limitation and the prob
lens OF the far east. so strongly in
sisted upon by Secretary Hughes. is
being carried out.
Thus within six days of the initial
session. the conference has agreed
upon the greatest program OF naval
destruction and future regulation the
world has ever seen, and has launch
ed fully into the most difficult part
Of the agenda. The progress already
attained has set a new mark Of eff
cheney for international gatherings
Publicly the diplomats engaged IN
settling Chua's fate and the future
policies of the orient profess them
selves optimistic of success. In
private conversations they candidly
admit that If there is to be any failure
in the conference it will hinge about
the matters that are being taken Up
today. OF all nations sitting abou.
the table in the Pan-American build
ing. only the United States has terri
torial concessions or special privil-
eges" in China's mainland The
American policy is constructed square
ly of the principle Of the "open door
laid down by John Hay, % years ago.
1t has for its object equal opportunity
for all in the development of Chinese
trade and resources and Special
for none.
China's general principles" were
before the diplomats today. They
will be followed by Chinese program
of practical application of those prin-
ciples to existing conditions. How far
China's program is possible OF execu-
tion is a matter for conjecture. The
opposition is formidable. The Japan
ese have Shantung. Mongolia and
British Hong Kong
and Wei-Pei-W Wei. the French. Indo-
China, and the smaller powers have
commensurate with their size
and influence.
How soon there will be a public ses.
sion at which will be discussed the
questions of the far east was not fore
cast today by any of the diplomats
It was regarded as certain that there
will be no public exhibition of bicker-
ing until satisfactory progress has
been made in some specific points.
Then it is probable that a plenary
session will be arranged in order that
the diplomats can give voice publicly
10 their policies.