Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-11-19
CHINA ASSUMES
LEADERSHIP IN
FAR EAST TOPIC
Committee of Whole to Be
Allowed to Debate
Question.
ASKS FOR SOVEREIGNTY
Special to Indiana Daily Times

Special to Indiana Daily Times
and Philadelphia Public Ledger.
BY FREDERICK WILLIAM VILE.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19.-America for
the present will stand pat on Far East
ern and Pacific questions. A waiting game
has been decided upon by the United
States delegation as its most strategic
policy at this stage of conference proceed
ings. Whether or not China's ten com
mandments' were laid upon the table
with Americas knowledge and consent
ha snot been disclosed But it entirely
suits Secretary Hughes book that China
has taken the initiative in submitting
basic principles for discussion of East
ern issues.
At a meeting Of the conference sub
committee of nine-consisting of the
heads Of the powers participating in Far
Eastern discussions-methods of proceed
ure were considered and they decided to
recommend that the committee Of the
whole" embracing all delegates accredited
to the conference, should first have an
opportunity for a general discussion OF
questions relating to China" The 'cOm-
mittee Of the whole" l. G., the full confer
ence, will be convened ut a time agreeable
to the delegations. Sessions presumably
are TO be executive and not open to the
public.
The tentative American agenda" pro-
vides that Pacific and Far Eastern
questions" shall be taken up under three
general headings-D questions relating
to China, ~ Siberia, (S) ma9dated
islands. Subjects concerned with China,
which the United States agenda lists
in the order named are:
, a. Territorial integrity.
B. Administrative integrity.
c. Open dOor-equality of commercial
and industrial opportunity.
D. Concessions, monOp0lies or prefe-
rental economic privileges.
Z. Development Of railways, including
plans relating to Chinese Eastern Rail
way.
f. Preferential railroad rates.
G. Status Of existing commitments.
The same sub-divisiOnal subjects apply
to Siberia. electrical communications
in the Pacific" also figures in the Ancri-
can agenda. Prior to the converting Of
the conference all invited powers sigEi-
fed their general acquiescence in the
United States suggestions.
/ 1t was the general expectation among
/ conference delegations that Secretary
Hughes would launch a new diplomatic
offensive, aimed at unravelling the Far
. Eastern Knot. l0OSe aullclpdliOus were
based on his dazzling strategy in To-
cusing attention Immediately and con-
| creteIy on armament questions. 1t was
/ the first time in the experience Of
European and Asiatic diplomatiStS that,
instead Of platonic principles, direct,
/ specific practicable methods for applying
/ principles were submitted at the very
outset Of an international conference.
They confidently believed Secretary
q hon IA hall
would hurl another from the same ar
senal. That Is not TO be. As an eminent
spokesman Of the United States put it,
/ "ona shouldn't think that because a fel-
/ low rides a horse, he can also fly kite,
in other words, different tactics are 10
/ be employed by America with regard
I 70 the Far Eastern branch OF the confer
ence than Mt. Hughes IS using In con-
nection with ornaments. Americas gen
eral ideas about the Asiatic situation are
I well known. But no specific lines OF
policy are to be disclosed for the mo-
ment. At present wait and see" is our
only program.
! The British are working like beavers
on the American naval proposals. They
concede they comprise "a tall order
Emphasizing the complete element Of
surprise the proposals presented, the
British delegation points out that it
would be more than super human to ex-
| pect rapid progress on consideration-tO
/ say nothing of decisiOn-Of a scheme in
volving such Revolutionary changes"
( On the subject Of submarine tonnage,
the British position remains unchanged.
John Bull thinks an allotment Of 10000
| tons Of undersea craft for Uncle Sam
and himself is excessive and it would be
/ best If the weapon of assassination"
which Germany made notorious were to
/ be wiped Que Of existence altogether.
/ The earnest plea Of the Chinese to be
allowed to work out their republics own
/ salvation is being considered by the con
! ference IN q sympathetic, but on the
| whole cold blooded, spirit. All depends,
/ statesmen say, on whether the Chinese
/ can make good" on their claims and
/ pretensions to sovereignty. Is the
authority of Pekin, as represented at the
/ conference, an absolutely reliable
/ quantity? If extra territoriality is
| abolished, as Chinas commandments"
want it abolished, is any American or
| European who has personal knowledge OF
! tie Chinese judicial system likely TO en-
l trust his interests TO it, Ought China
not to give tangible evidence OF her
/ regeneracy before expecting the great
powers to conduct themselves as If It
were an established facty Can China
ever become stabilized without some
form of outside aid. at least for the
| time being?
! It is those questions which are being
| seriously canvassed in Washington. They
are. resented by the Chinese, who say
/ tales of Chinese instability, chaos and
! responsibility are propaganda" circula-
/ ted by interested I'll wishers. But the
writer has reason to know the practical
| queries above quoted are launched, not
| by enemies Of China. but by some of her
best American friends-Copyrigbt 1921,
/ by Public Ledger Company.