New-York tribune., 1921-09-13
Shantllng Issue
Now Added to
Arms Problem
Chinese Rejection of Plan
Japan Proposed Leaves
Entire Controversy To Be
Adjusted by Conference
No Solution Yet on Yap
Importance of Settlement
of Far East Differences
to Disarning Apparent
By Carter Field

WASHINGTON. Sept 12.-Dispatch
from Peking to-day forecasting refusal
by China of the Japanese proposals
with regard to Shantung make 1T GER
tain that this problem must be dealt
with at the armament limitation CON
ference. Despite the optimistic re-
ports about the conversations which
have ben going on between Secretary
Hughes and Japanese Ambassador
Shidehara it is also regarded as prob
able here that this question will not be
settled until it is considered 'by the
November conference.
Meanwhile, although from Japanese
sources some months ago came reports
that Am AMBASSADOR Shidehara had taken
up, and was in q fair way to conclude
satisfactorily, all the controversies be-
tween this country and Japan, no ad-
justment has been reached on any one
of the many vexatious problems which
prevent perfect amity between the two
nations.
Officials here, while deprecating the
fact that these questions seem no
nearer a solution, point out that the
whole situation shows the imperative
necessity for holding the armament
limitation conference and including in
it the discussion of Pacific and Far
Eastern questions"
Theory of Critics Artagonized
Interest is lent this point because of
the constantly repeated attacks by
Senator Borah and others, notably the
Democratic National Committee public
ity bureau, and their insistence that
the inclusion of Pacific and Far East
ern questions made difficult if not i'm
possible attainment of any real measure
of armament limita ation.
1t is frankly admitted by close ad-
visers of President Harding that the
task confronting the conference in
November is not an easy one, and it is
conceded that the solution of the Paci-
fic and Far Eastern questions, which is
more or less polite phrase for de-
scribing the controversies between
Japan and the United States, is much
more complicated and difficult than the
actual armament limitation itself 1t
is also fully appreciated. however, that
these controversies with Japan, which
Senator Borah and others would per
NIT to drift on without settlement
while this country agreed to any meas
ure of armament limitation which
might be decided upon, were and are
much more serious than the country at
large suspects.
demonstrated by the failure of the
avowed intention of the Japanese to
have Ambassador Shidehara reach
agreements with Secretary Hughes
there has been no road to their solu-
tion in sight, while, on the other hand,
it is a conservative statement to de-
clare that if these questions were not
settled it would not be difficult to
imagine the two countries drifting
into strained relations.
lingo Press an Irritant
This is especially true in view of the
iingo press of Japan and the rabid
batting Of Japan on any and all oc-
casions by some of the newspapers of
this country.
This was the situation which con-
fronted President Harding and Secre-
tary Hughes, coupled with the earnest
desire on their part to reduce govern
mental expenditures and the public
clamor for reduction of the army and
navy, so as to reduce taxes. And this
is why the President, in extending in
vitations to the Conference on the
Limitation of Armament, dwelt upon
the Pacific and Far Eastern questions.
with the broad intmation that unless
these possible causes of war between
two of the three most powerful naval
countries of the world were excluded
there could be no letting up in naval
construction SO far as the United States
is concerned.
A more optimistic development Of
the day was that two of the powers
invited to the conference had given
| their approval to invitations being sent
Holland and Belgium to participate so
far as Pacific and Far Eastern ques-
tions are concerned. While it was not
officially stated who the two consent
ing nations were, it is understood they
are France and Japan.
1t was stated that preliminary sound
ings have disclosed no opposition to
Holland and Belgium being invited to
participate. Formal invitations, how
ever, will not be sent until official ap-
prevails have been received from Great
Britain and Italy, so as to make it
UNANIMOUS
Hollands possessions N the Far
East are large, productive and impor-
tant, their area alone being seven times
70