The Washington herald., 1921-07-22
BY RALPH III. TURNER.

The dispute over Shantung. the
Chinese province in which certain
rights were awarded to Japan at
the Peace Conference without
China's consent. may we'll be
threshed out at the Forthcoming
Washington conference, in the view
of the administration.
Information from official quarters
conveying this attitude on the part
of the United States comes in the
face of suggestions from Tokyo
that the Shantung question was dis
posed of in Paris and is outside
the scope of the armament-Far
Eastern meeting.
Issue stilI Open.
While the administration has not
yet taken the position that II must
forbid the exclusion of certain sub
jects, il was made plain yesterday
that the Shantung issue is still
open for settlement and is a proper
subject for consideration when the
powers assemble here.
This development, which is con-
sidered significant because of its re-
lation to Japan's present attitude,
is only one of several new variants
that have arisen from discussions
preliminary to the actual meeting
Others include:
l. If foreign powers desire to set
tie pending international questions
before the conference convenes, the
United States is willing -
3 The United States is adhering
firmly to its view that it is not
desirable to attempt any prelimi-
nary definition of the precise
agenda to be considered at the con-
ference.
8. Suggestions from Great Britain
for postponement of the conclave
until spring find this government
preferring to hold the meeting in
November. The United States is
mot yet convinced that the confer
ence cannot be held in the fall"
in the words of an official spokes-
man.
France Wants Protection.
4. Administration authorities had
received previous unofficial intima-
tion that France desires American
protective guarantees against Ger
premature ow to discuss the French
position.
France is preparing to seek guar
antees for her protection, as a con-
dition on limitation of her armies.
but there is an opinion here which
holds that France could materially
reduce her military strength and
still remain in perfect safety from
any threat of German aggression.
China Opposed Award.
German rights in Shantung were
awarded Japan by the peace con-
ference. it was explained. but China
never consented to the award and
declined to sign the Versailles
treaty. The administration holds
that this is a matter involving the
integrity of Chinese territory. As
the latter point is one of the most
important affecting the preservation
Of peace in the Far East, this gov
ernment contends that China NAV
well introduce the subject when the
opens.
Despite the disposition of Yap by
the league of nations mandate, il
is explained that the league al
ready has admitted that the ques-
ton is unsettled, because of Amer
lca's. attitude, and has suggested
that the interested parties settle the
among themselves.
AS indicative of the immense nm
1ertaking which the conference
represents, it is learned that the
American government already has
begun extensive preparation of
iata, expert reports, memoranda,
etc. which will be used at the
meeting. These will\ touch upon
every subject relating to the con-
erence. Not only has the State
Department begun to prepare, but
he War and Navy departments also
ire compiling extensive information.