Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1921-07-25
JAPAN WOULD PUT
LIMIT ON LIMITS Of
DISARMAMENT TALK
NIPPON GOVERNMENT WANTS TO
KNOW JUST HOW FAR CONFER.
ENCE WILL GO, BEFORE COM.
MiTTING ITSELF.

Washington, July 25.-Although the
conclusions Of the diplomatic advisory
council of Japan which has been meet.
in Toxic, are expected to decide ia.
pans course regarding participation
in the proposed Far Eastern confer.
ence, it is practically certain Japan
will ask formal agreement as to the
scope of the conference before it
meets.
Formulation of the agreement
might come before the extension of
the formal invitation to the conference.
There are indications that the Japan
csc would prefer that arrangement.
but If not, then the formal invitation
itself, will, it is expected, make these
limitations clear
Principal subjects for discussion by
the proposed conference under the
head OF Far Eastern questions are
considered in Japanese circles here to
embrace the relation of China to other
governments China's internal eco.
nomic conditions, and the possibility
of reconciling various conflicting con
cessions held by foreign governments
and individuals.
The Japanese believe there should
be no interference with vested rights
but that it is entirely proper that
efforts should be made to relieve fric-
ton from overlapping claims Japan
claims certain exclusive rights in
Manchuria; Great Britain asserts con.
troll of sphere of influence in the
whole Yantse valley; America has
railway concessions through middle
China, Belgium and Holland are also
interested financially in such enter.
prises, while France dominates the
Chinese postal system as counter
balance to England's control of the
Chinese maritime customs. Japan
also enjoys exclusive rights in Fukien
province
Japan favors the framing of plan
to simplify all these concessions, it is
understood. Incidentally that would
affect an American concession based
on tobacco tax monopoly and might
also involve a review of the arrange
ments made by the consortium which
undertook to finance China.
The Japanese hope to adjust diff
ferences over their occupation of
Shantung before the conference by di.
rect negotiations with China. 1t is
also believed in Japanese quarters
that the controversy with the United
States as to cable rights in the Island
of zap may be settled "out of court"
between Secretary Hughes and Baron
Shidehara.
American officials, however, are nor
SO positive about this. While they
hope for direct settlement, it is fully
understood that the issue. apparently
confined to question of the right
to operate submarine cable, might
easily be enlarged to involve theI
whole subject of mandates over the
Pacific Islands.
Should the direct negotiations fail
it is believed almost inevitable thai
the Washington conference will con.
slider this subject in its broadcast as
pect Japan is understood to be pre-
pared, then, to challenge exclusive
control by the British Pacific domin-
ions of the islands in the Pacific south
of the equator formerly owned by the |
Germans, which are regarded by the
Japanese as much richer in trade op.
portunities than the former German !
owned islands north of the equator
which were assigned to Japan.
1t appears that the main Japanese !
efforts will be directed to the removal |
of all restrictions on trade with China
and developments of that country, car
rying out the open ddoor policy initial
ed by the late John Hay. Assurance on
that point, already conveyed to Secre-
tary Hughes, is believed to account for |
much of the optimism shown regard
ing the success of TIE projected con-
ference.