Evening star., 1921-11-25
CHINESE QUESTION
: IS POINT AT ISSUE
Hope Held That U. S. Will Act
to Avoid TroubIe-PoIicy
Carefully Withheld.
In DIFFICULT POSITION
Japanese Miss Opportunity to Come
Forward Frankly and Embar-
rassment May Result.
BY PAUL SCOTT MOwRER.


The situation in Washington is be-
coming tense and complicated. The
various issues under discussion are
refusing to stay neatly separated, as
Secretary Hughes would like to have
them. They are getting all mixed up.
Naval armament reacts on the far
eastern question, and land armament
reacts on both. The general misun-
derstanding between France and Brit
ain. the slight difference of opinion
between France and Italy, the latent
enmity between China and Japan, are
all contributing to becloud develop
ments. The confusion is heightened
by the careful refusal of the American
delegation to divulge it's position with
regard to the far eastern question,
with the result that China. Japan and
Britain are Obliged to maneuyer more
or less in the dark.
Except for China and the United
States there is no doubt that all
the powers here represented would
like the conference to come now to
q speedy close. with an agreement
of the far eastern qpestion in a few
general principles, SO that the vari-
GUS delegates can eat Christmas din
ner at home. Aristide BRAND has
diTcduy gone, anu tneTo is small
probability that David Lloyd George
will arrive before Christmas. if at all
The foreign delegates have so far
misjudged American public opinion
that some of them actually. think
the republican administration called
the conference largely for the pur-
pose of strengthening its popularity
by winning an easy diplomatic sue
cess In the matter of naval disarma-
ment. They think that, even if the
hA1n fE%Nr 70. oh
streperous, the United States can be
counted upon to restrain .them-any-
thing to avoid trouble,
Suggests Months Recess.
They see no reason. therefore. why
some sort of agreement on naval
armament should not be rapidly
railroaded through, and the confer
ence ended before the dangerous far
eastern question begins to engulf
every one in it's quicksandS. How
ever, il the conference should be pro-
longer against their hopes. they are
talking of a possible months recess,
beginning about December Il and
lasting until January IL. This would
give the French and the British, and
possibly the Italians time to go home
and take contact with their govern
ments.
Meanwhile, every one is maneuver-
ing. The most active delegation at
present is the Chinese. The silence
Of the American delegates in the de-
tails of the far eastern question puZ-
zleS them. They are getting nervous.
The one thing which China can really
boast of is strong public opinion.
and there is reason to believe that
il the Chinese delegates do not at
least make strong open fight for
what are considered China's rights.
they will scarcely dare return to
China. Already ugly rumors are COM
ing from Shanghai, Peking and Can
ton of discomfort because China's case
is not being pushed forward fast
enough.
Against Timid Hesitancy.
In these circums tances. it is doubt
full if the United States. even if it
wanted to. could hold back the Chi
nese delegates. They have already
brought up the question of the Chi
Nese customs tariff, and within a few
days they will doubtless bring up
other concrete questions and force
them to an issue. If they fail to get
satisfaction behind closed doors. they
will, perhaps. demand the right to ap-
peal in open session to the whole
world. After what happened three
years ago in Paris they are in no
mood to play role of timid hesi-
fancy.
Against this Chinese maneuver cer-
tain powers will probably try to dis
credit the entire ChlneSe delegation,
pointing out that. given the present
political chaos in China. these dele
gates can scarcely be said to repre-
sent anything. Indeed. one power even
attempted to silence Wellington Koo
on Wednesday by raising this delicate
point. But to succeed this foil would
have to have the support of all the
other delegates. The United States,
having invited China to attend the
conference, can hardly participate
now in an attempt to disavow the
Chinese Representatives.
Japan in Difficult Position.
As a result of China's determination