The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-07-16
JAPS HESITATE
TO LOOSE GRIP
UPON FAR EAST
Washington Und e r
stands But Officially
Says Nothing.
BY DAVID L. LAWRENCE.
Copyright, 1921.

Especial TO The Argus.
washington, July 16-Japan's
nesitancy to accept unreservedly
Americas invitation to discuss Far
eastern problems is thoroughly un-
cerstood here, though of course, Of
nclally nothing is said about it.
Briefly, Japan does not wish to
reopen questions which she con-
slders closed. Eventually Japan
Will consent to discussion of some
+ ar eastern questions, but Just now
sne is particularly anxious to know
what the scope of the Washington
conference will be. 1t is the usual
Japanese caution whenever the Far
East is mentioned in a conference
of powers. The same wariness was
exhibited by the Japanese at the
versailles conference. 1t is a mat
ter of record that the Japanese were
most carful not to commit them
selves at Paris on any thing that
seemed to limit Japan's opportun-
1ty to dominate the Far East. The
Versailles treaty granted to Japan
certain privileges in the Pacific
which they are unwilling to sur
render, and 1t is we'll known that
Japan has felt sensitive about the
criticism in the United States at
the provision in the peace treaty
which gave Shantung to Japan.
China Not Welcomed.
Japan realizes that the United
States has not ratified the Yer
sailles treaty and is, therefore, in
a position to bring up any ques-
tons in the Far East, including
Japan's relations to China. The
thought that President Harding in
vited China to sit in the confer
ence was in itself notification that
Japanese Chinese controversies
would be aired, in an effort to estab-
Esh peace in the Far East, and TO
remove possible reasons for mill
tary or naval Intervention in the
future on the part of European and
American powers. Japan naturally
does not like to have China sit n
an International conference which
would give China a chance to re-
open matters which Japan holds IS
settled
Another thing that is worrying
the Japanese is whether the Wash
ipgton conferences will make an
agreement that will supersede exist
ing understanding Japan, for ex-
ample, feels that she has derived
certain benefits from the Lansing
Ishif agreement which while not
specifically repudiated by the Hard
ing administration, is not especial
ly liked, and probably will be treat
ed as many of the acts on foreign
policies of the Wilson administra-
ton has been-namely, will be ig-
nored. The same is true of the
Anglo-Japanese alliance, which has
not been renewed, although it con-
tinues temporarily in effect. Will
the Japanese find the Lansing-Isli;i
agreement and the Anglo-Japanese
alliance set aside in favor of a new
convention, or will the new under
standing preserve japanese. suprem-
acy in the Far East?
Toxic Doesn't Understand.
1t is due largely to the inadequacy
of cable communication between
Japan and the United States that all
call of the disarmament conference
have not yet been made plain n
Toxic, but when the issues are final
ly defined the foregoing funda-
mentals will be uppermost in the
japanese minds, no matter whether
the Japanese delegates are empow-
cred to come to Washington to dis
cusS limitation of ornaments alone
Or far Eastern questions as well
The prevailing view here is that
the Japanese never will specifically
refuse to discuss Far Eastern ques-
tions, but will always reserve the
right to restrict the scope of such
a discussion purely to it's bearing on
the armament problem. In other