The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-11-28
CHINESE WANT
SRANTUNG BACK
May Bring Issue Before
Conference for Limita-
ton of Armament
JAPAN OPPOSES
SUCH PROPOSITION
Chinese Afraid of Settlement at Pekin
or Toxic - Want World Powers to
Know and Approve Terms - Annul-
ment Pronosed to Japan.

nent Proposed to Japan.
WASHINGTON. Nov. 2S.-Will the
celebrated Shantung question which has
so stirred public opinion in both the Occi-
dent and Orient find its way into the
Washington conference?
This question occupies a prominent
place in the thought and talk of the dele
gates, though open references to it are
most guarded. In some quarters a desire
is shown to avoid it if possible on the
ground that the subject is liable to revive
old controversies and interrupt the hith-
crto harmonious trend of the conference.
The Chinese view is that the Shantung
question occupies an important place on
the program they have drawn up for sub
mission for the conference. The japanese
standpoint is that it is quite unnecessary
to discuss the Shautung matter. because
.Iapan stands ready to open direct negotla-
tions with China for the restoration of the
leased territory Of Kiauchau in Shantung
and the withdrawal Of troops along the
railroad on condition which Japan consld-
ers reasonable.
She Chinese opinion on this as eX-
pressed here is that public opinion in
China is clamoring for SOME settlement
Members of the Chinese delegation say
that the Chinese people do not want
either the Shantung question or that Of
the 1915 treaty settled in either PekIn
or Toxic The Chinese according to
members of the delegation here, would mis-
trust any such settlement, and believe that
only through an agreement reached with
the knowledge and the participation OF
the world powers would permanent
equitable solution be found. The Wash
ingtOn conference affords such an CppOr-
tmity as this to Wellington KOO, mem
ber of the Chinese delegation. who said
China will press before the conference for
the unfettcred return of Shantung and
abr0gati0n- of the 81 demands Unless
Cutmaneuvered on the diplomatic chess
board in the corridors outside the confer
cnce itself it was declared. the two qUeS-
tiens undoubtedly viii be carried before
the present meeting.
In some Far Eastern circles the sugges-
ton is put forward that if Japan would
take the initiative to bring about an'Iul-
mpnt Of at least certain parts of the 1915
treaty. known as the R1 demands treaty
it would help calm agitation in China con-
cerning Shantung and make for more
amicable relations between Japan and
China.
Already japanese spokesmen have sug-
gested that they are prepared to discuss
in the conference the 1915 agreement from
the standpoint of whether it is in contra
diction to the principle of the open
door" and have allowed it to be under
stood by Inference that if it can be shown
that any clauses of the treaty are in vio-
Iation of this doctrine Japan would be
ready to bring about the annulment Such
a contingency is believed to mean, how
ever, that Japan would insist upon Il
new arrangement with China clearly fix
ing her right to the renewal of the lease
of the South Manchuria railway, which
soon expires.