The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-12-07
Shantung Issue
Hits Conference
America and England Step
Into the Breach-China and
Japan Accept

Shantung controversy took It's place
today at the arms conference.
The result was an offer by the
United States and Great Britain,
accepted promptly BY Japan and
China, to assume the role Of friend
" advisors in new attempt to
solve the problem aad end the long
and bitter debate that has swept
over three continents.
The plan for an exercise OF
American and british good Of
fees" is understood to have orig
mated with the american delega-
ton after it became apparent that
China had resolved to raise the
question in the conference proper.
Secretary Hughes and Arthur j.
Balfour, as respective heads Of the
American and British groups, will
meet tomorrow with the Japanese
and Chinese to lay the basis for
the negotiations.
On the eve of the first meeting
the Chinese delegates announced
tonight they would go into the dis
cussions prepared to accept moth
ing less than unconditional with
drawal Of the Japanese claims in
Shantung. The attitude Of Japan
vas not set forth so explicitly, but
it was assumed the japanese
spokesmen would contend for the
reservations insisted on in the re-
cent diplomatic exchange between
TOXIC and Peking.
The advent OF the Shantung
question at the council table fol-
lowed on the heels Of q debate on
the general subject Of maintenance
Of foreign troops within Chinese
borders, which in itself had
brought the conference to a consid-
Grafton of some of the serious fac
tors in Chino-Japanese relations.
Speaking for Japan. Vice Foreign
Minister Hanihara declared with
drawal Of the Japanese troops
from several parts of China out
side Shantung must await definite
assurances that the Chinese au-
thorities would take more effective
steps to maintain order.
At Hankow. said the Japanese
delegate, repeated disorders had
justified Japan in keeping her
troops where they now are station
ed. He declared the garrisons in
North China were remaining un-
der specific authorization of the
Boxer protocol, and that those
along the Chinese Eastern Railway
were acting under the inter-allied
agreement Of 1919. The willing
ness Of Japan to withdraw her
troops from Shantung, he asserted,
was dependent on the establish
ment of an acceptable Chinese po-
lice force.
AS a result OF the discussion. the
conference postponed its decision
until it's next meeting on Friday.
Among the American delegates
the belief tonight was that some
general declaration of principle
might be adopted finally, setting
forth the opinion Of the powers
that all foreign troops on Chinese
soil without treaty sanctions should
be withdrawn as soon as conditions
warrant.
Along with the general subject
of foreign troops was considered
the problem Of foreign telegraph
and radio facilities which have been
installed in China without her
specific consent, with the arSu-
ment apparently tending toward a
reference Of that feature Of the ne
gotiations to q more general con-
ference on Pacific communications
to be held next year.
In its approach to the Shantuns
problem, the conference is said to
have been influenced by many in
tricate considerations. c h n
representative have indicated they
wanted the. question raised openly
for all Of the nine nations 10 de-
bate, and one OF the Chinese dele
gates, DR.. Wang, declared tonight
that the good Offices" negotiations
by no means meant that subject was
outside the conference" Japan,
on the other hand, has indicated
reluctance to debating Shantung at
the regular conference sessions be-
cause she accepted the invitation
to Washington with the under
standing that specific subjects
should be considered only by the
! nations directly concerned.
Another complicating circum-
stance is that Japan bases her
claim to ShantUng on a direct grant
contained in the Treaty Of Yer
saillcs, which has been ratified by
five of the zine nations represented
here, but which China refused to
accept because Of the Shantung Sec
ton. Great Britain, France and
Italy also are parties to the secre;
treaties by which during the war
they promised to support Japan's
claim to the kai-Chow lease.
Facing this tangled situation
the American delegation is said to
have felt that the proper way tC
deal with the question at the pres
ent stage Of the Far Eastern re-
gotiations would be through the
tender Of good Offices Although
maintaining liaison with the con-
ference itself, it is expected that
fer the most part the negotiations
Will be carried on directly between
the Chinese and Japanese deegates.
At tomcrrow'S meeting Secretary
| EnlwheS nnd Mr. Ralfnir. are 70