The Delta independent., 1921-10-21
TENTATIVE PROGRAM FOR
COMING CONFERENCE TO
DISCUSS ARMAMENTS

fetal text of the tentative agenda, or
program, for the approaching confer
ence on limitation of armaments. Out
of courtesy to the governments which
have been invited to participate in
the conference the State Department
did not intend to give out this pro-
gram until it had been formally ac-
cepted by the other powers. but in
asmuch as some Information as to the
list of topics to be discussed had been
made public from other sources and
part of it was inaccurate. the State
Department deemed 1t advisable to
issue the correct text of the program
as proposed and forwarded to the ma
tions which viii be officially in at
tendance. This program is as fol-
lows:
Limitation Of Armament
l.. Limitation of naval armament
1 under which shall be discussed (a)
basis Of Limitation, (b) extent, (c) full
| nnment.
2. Rules for control Of new agencies
of warfare.
3. Limitation Of land armament.
Pacific and Far Eastern Questions
1. Questions relating to China. First,
principles to be applied; second. ap-
pIicatioh.
Subjects:
(a) Territorial integrity.
| OBJ Administrative integrity.
(c) Open door-equarity OF CONNER
| ciaI and industrial opportunity.
| fd) Concessions, monopolies or pre-
ferential economic privileges.
| q Development OF railways. includ-
ing plans relating to Chinese Eastern
Railway.
tf) Preferential railroad rates.
| (g) Status of existing commitments
2. Siberia (SimiIaf headings)
3. Mandated islands. (Unless ques-
tions earlier settled).
Far East Discussion First
The State Department made It clear
that although the subject Of limitation
of armaments is put first upon the
program II does not necessarily fol-
low that 1t will be the first to be dis
cussed Because It will be impossible
to arrive at any satisfactory con-
clusions regarding limitation OF arma-
ments unless the vexatious problems
Of the Far East are settled in man.
ner satisfactory to all interested par
ties, It is more than likely that the
Far Eastern questions win come first
in actual discussion. An examina-
tion OF the topics relating to the Far
East shows that economic, rather than
political. interests will receive the
consideration OF the conference. Prac-
tically every problem affecting eco
nomic interests in the Orient will be
discussed, according to the tentative
program.
Under the head Questions Relating
to China" every phase OF the Chinese
question will be handled. This in
wolves, OF course. the general -prin-
ciples OF the open door and the con-
ficting practices of monOpolistic or
preferential economic privileges in
China This includes not only con-
cessiOns enjoyed by Japan but also
those enjoyed by Great Britain, by
which she has control OF mining and
railroad privileges in certain Chinese
provinces.
Secret Treaties Dragged Out
The innocent looking sub-head.
"Status OF Existing Commitments" is
really one of the most important sub
jects to be brought before the con-
ference because its discussion will
disclose secret agreements and con-
cessions which have not been made
public, or, II known, are subject to
various interpretations Under this
topic It will be necessary for the par
ticipating powers to make very clear
what fhev ra1ard aa definite commit
ments. which OF course will open up
the entire subject Of secret treaties
Rand "gentlemen's agreements" parcel
ing resources. commercial and indus.
trial privileges and other economic