Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-12-27
NAVAL AGREEMENT
To BE NEW YEARS
PRESENT To WORLD
Arms Conference Reaches
Stage Where Accomplish
ment of Far-Reaching I'm
portance Is Close at Hand
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Leased Wire Service to The Journal
(Copvripht 1901


Copyright, 1921
WASHINGTON, Dec. 24.-Just as
in the last lap of the Paris place
conference, public interest seemed
to wane and the most important de-
cisions were being made, so at the
Washington conference the really
important stage of negotiations has
been reached at a time when the mo-
notony of diplomacy has reached an
anti-climaX to the dramatic moments
of the opening sessions.
The truth is, the Washington con-
ference has arrived at the final
stage, when accomplishment of far
reaching Importance is close at hand.
The spectacular and the dramatic
have gone by, but the decisions be-
transcend in effect the earlier dis
cussions and proposals. For the
Washington conference is about to
complete the essential parts of it's
program. The following can be ex-
pected to materialize within the next
ten days:
First. A complete agreement of
limitation of battleships and a ma
val holiday of ten years. The SUBJ
marine issue is causing the usual
amount of debate and will take a
little time to settle, but it will be
settled satisfactorily.
Second. The conversations be-
tween Japan and China relating to
Shantung give fair promise of ad-
justment through the purchase by
the Chinese of certain railroad rights
in Shantung.
Third. The Chinese-Japanese ques-
tons will be embodied in a set of
principles to be carried out by in
ternational commissions.
Fourth. The matter of land arm
aments will be disposed of by gen
eral resolution, expressing the hope
that the major powers may unite in
reducing financial burdens by re-
moving the causes for land arma-
ments. 1t will be the expression of
hope rather than a direct or spe-
cific recommendation.
Agreement by New Years
Fifth-The question of japanese
withdrawal. from Siberia will be
urged by the United States. The at
titude of the Japanese is not yet
known put ho
in the case, there seems no real rea-
son for Japanese occupation of ST.
berian territory.
1t had been hoped that a plenary
session of the conference might be
held on the day before Christmas, so
as to give the American people as a
Yuletide gift the formal agreement
to stop naval building for ten years.
But the French attitude on capital
ships took up so much time in ne
gotiation, that try as they might
to make speed, the delegates had to
abandon the idea. But for New
Years day the public may expect a
complete agreement on all naval
issues.
AS for the conversations about
Shantung, the Japanese representa-
tives here started the discussion
without instructions from Toxic, but
with the assent of the foreign office
so as to see how far opinion might
be developed toward an agreement
The Japanese asked that the Chinese
retain certain Japanese employees.
To this the Chinese returned a mega
tive answer, as they did to successive
proposals of a loan by Japanese
bankers to help the Chinese pay for
the railroad in question. The Chi
nese again refused. and said they
would have no difficulty raising a
loan among Chinese bankers.
"How does it happen" asked the
Japanese, that you are so ready to
pay millions of dollars for the rail-
road in Shantung, when you haven't
even paid your interest on earlier
loans?"
"Oh, for such a purpose as getting
Shantung back" replied the Chinese,
"our bankers will come forward glad
ly with funds"
Referred to Toxic
So the whole question has been
referred to Toxic in the form of con-
crete proposals and some decision
may be expected within a few days.
AS for Siberia, it will prove largely
a question between the United States
and Japan. These two countries
entered Siberia together during the
war, but while the Japanese prom
Used to withdraw when the Ameri-
cans did, it developed that the Japa-
nese found excuses for prolonged
stay. The northern half of the Rus
sian island of Sakhalin is still occu.
pied by the japanese as a reprisal
against the massacre of certain Jap
anese in Siberia. The Japanese have
said they intended to stay there.
This, however, is exactly how leased
territories and spheres of influence
originated. and the powers are not
disposed at this time to put an end to
the existing leases while sanctioning
new annexaticns of Russian territory
on the other.
The republic of Chita, which has
not yet been recognized, has sent
emissaries to obtain a hearing, but
so far as the United States is con-
cerned it is not ready to agree to the
partition of Siberia. incidentally,
curious incident occurred recently in
connection with Chita. The depart
ment of state received an urgent ca
blegram from Shantung telling of
there against United
States because of the publication of
a newspaper report that the dele
gates of China had not been given
diplomatic immunities and had not
been received by the secretary of
state but had been shunted off to the
Far Eastern bureau of the depart
ment of state. Much excitement re-
suited in Shanghai.
The department of state got in
touch with the American news agen
cy which had sent the report, and an
developed that the
original cablegram read: 1.-THE dele
gates of Chita," but somewhere en-
route n cable operator made it read:
1.-The delegates of China" OF course, |
the delegates from Chita were not