Evening star., 1921-11-17
Delegates Decide to
Take Up Chinese
Question First.
u. S. SUBJECTS PUT
AT HEAD OF LIST
Will Be Given Precedence
But Without Holding
Up Other Issues.
BY the Associated Press.

w Ol1lCI 1SSuCSs
BY the Associated Press.
Heads of the delegations of the
nine powers participating in discus
sion of far eastern questions at a
meeting today decided to proceed first
with the consideration of problems
relating to China before entering
upon other far eastern questions.
The other questions. it was de-
cided. will be taken up in the order
listed on the tentative agenda sug-
gested some time ago by the Amer
lean government.
After the meeting of the big nine
the following statement was issued:
"A meeting was held this morning
at the n-American building of the
subcommittee appointed to outline a
course of procedure for the discus
sion of the Pacific and far eastern
questions on the part of the full COM
mittee of the delegates appointed by
the conference to deal with those
subjects.
Opportunity for Discussion.
"The subcommittee consisting OF
the heads of the delegations of the
powers participating in the discus
sions of the Pacific and far eastern
questions decided to recommend that
at a meeting of the full committee
of the delegates there should be first
an opportunity for general discus
sion of the various particular topics
in the order listed in the tentative
agenda which has been suggested by
the American government. with Il
consideration of the proposals sub
mitted on behalf of the Chinese dele
cation in connection with the appro-
pirate heads to which the several
proposals relate.
1.-The subcommittee then adjourned.
The full committee is to be convened
at a time found to be convenient
for the members of the delegations"
VIII Develop Policies.
The effect of the decision to per-
NIT first general discussion of
Chinese problems will be, it was said
to develop the general policies upon
which the various nations expect to
base their part of the negotiations.
The delegation heads are understood
to have agreed that such delinea
ton of policy all the way around the
table would be the best means of
facilitating discussions of particular
topics when they are reached
Whether all of the nations will
take advantage of the opportunity
thus to develop their views. however.
was not apparent, and it was sug-
gested that some of the national
viewpoints might not be fully re-
vealed until discussions of the de-
tailed topics are in progress. 1t has
been the apparent purpose of one or
two of the principal delegations to
let their respective policies be de-
veloped point by point as the discus
sions proceed.
Vital Subject mt Head.
The subjects relating to China which
are included in the topical list of the
tegrity, administrative integrity. the
open door, concessions, development
Of railways, preferential rates and the
status of existing commitments.
All of these as they relate to China
are placed at the head Of the program
for far eastern discussions. subjects
dealing with Siberia and the man
dated islands being grouped under a
secondary classification.
Whether the delegates expected to
follow this arrangement to the letter
was not revealed. but it was indicated
that Chinese problems at least would
be given precedent so far as possible
without holding up consideration of
other important questions.
The ten points presented yesterday
by China with the general backing of
the United States formed the basis of
today's exchanges, which were de-
signed to develop step by Step the
exact attitude of the nine delegations.
No one expected discussion of a pro-
gram that was considered certain to
draw out the opinions of the powers
as to the relative Importance of the
topics before them.
Need Prolonged Scrutiny.
The opinion of the American dele
cation, which appeared to have con-
siderable support among the repre-
sentatives of the other powers, was
that the far east negotiations need
not be complicated by the creation of
subcommittee to. deal with special
subjects. The American delegates
take the position that the far eastern
requiring the prolonged scrutiny OF
experts. They would be glad to Sc.
the big nine, or the full conference,
go directly to work without parceline
out branches of the task to any more
subcommittee than are absolutely es-
sential
With today's meeting the far east
ern discussion and those relating to
armament reduction began to follow
entirely Independent pathways, and
there was a growing impression that
sooner or later all the interested ma
tions would come around to the view
that the fortunes Of the two are not
inseparately linked. The United
States from the first felt that solu-
tion of the far east questions would
be a great aid in preserving peace.
but the American delegates apparent
ly do not feel that the armaments
program need be a failure If the far
eastern discussions fall short of an
agreement.
That is subject which few dele
gates will discuss without the greater
reserve, but the moves of all the
powers thus far have indicated a
unanimous intention to go as far as
possible with the armament plans
without making them In any way
dependent on an agreement as to the
far east.
Want to Awaken China.
In fact. in some quarters it is felt
that with an independent armament
agreement an accomplished fact, and
with the powers even tacitly agreed
as to the broadest principles to be
pursued in the Pacific and the orient,
further treaties or specific UNDER
standings as to the details of the
far eastern situation NAV he rendered