New-York tribune., 1921-12-18
Snag Develops
In Solution of
Shantllng Issue
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(Csntlnusd from sses sas)

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DR., Wang's presentation of the de-
mands as one of China's claims to he
considered under the conference agenda
prompted Secretary Hughes to adjourn
the. Far Eastern committee indefinitely.
The committee has not held session
since the demands were mentioned.
Opinion Is that If China in the mean
time VIII consent not to press any con-
sidaraton of the demands before the
conference she can have Shantung I'M
conditionally,
Another question which the Japanese
delegates avowedly are anxious to have
cleared up before the Shantung con-
troversy Is definitely settled pertains
to Manchuria.
Under the demands which China says
Europe was preoccupied with the World
War Japan was given widespread priv
ileges in Manchuria, including nine.
ty-nine-year extension Of the Russian
]easehold on the South Mapchuriap
Railway. She also obtained economic
advantages in Mongolia. Mr.. Hanhara
asserted positively that his country
had no intention Of giving up any
of these Marchurian privileges. Man
churia and Mongolia he said, were to
remain under Japanese suzeranty on
the Asiatic mainland in order that
Japan's "irrepressible expansion at
home. due to ker growing trade and
increasing population, might be re-
lieved. Mr.. Hanihara's statement re.
gardihg Manehuria was received as a
notice to the powers that his country
does not consider eithor Manchuria or
the twenty-one demands as business
properly before the conference. A
stipulation by the Chinese delegates
that they would not press for consid-
Grafton of these points, it was said,
would expedite Shantung settlement,
In answer to these suggestions nr
Wang said tonight;
I'VE Will not consent to coupling up
Slantung and the twenty-one demand,
They have no relation. Each must be
settled separately. China cannot af-
ford to bargain with Japan about any
thing. have repeatedly said that
three great problems are responsible
tor China's present economic collapse,
mands and the S per cent limitation on
our import duties imposed by the pow
ers for the last seventy-niue years.
We can never get on our feet If we
trade Off one against the other"
The. American delegation does not
regard that. Shantung and the twenty
one demands arc related. The reason
Secretary Hughes and Mr.. Balfour ar
ranged the Shantung negotiations be-
tween the Japanese and Chinese dele,
gates was that Great Britain, France
and Japan signed the Versailles Treaty
and they did not care to review or
reverse u provision of the treaty which
awarded Germany's interests in Shan
tung to Japan. Hence, Mr. Hughes and
Mr.. Balfour placed two American and
two British "ohseryers" in the negotia-
tions. The observers are acting as
umpires In order to satisfy the Chinese
people that the proceedings are not
secret.
But an entirely different condition
surrounds the twenty-one demands.
None OF the powers have passed upon
them. At the time tho Lansing Ishii
agreement was made in 1917 Japan let
it be known in her country and in
China that she considered America, by
signing the agreement, had recognized.
her especial interests and permanent
influence i'm Asia. The American gov
ernment met this Interpretation with a
denial and with reaffirmation of its
adherence to the open door and terri
toriaf integrity policies. Therefore it
is considered probable that the twenty
one demands will be reviewed by the
conference under the agenda heading
of "discernible sources OF controversy
likely to disturb the peace of the Far
East"