The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-01

Spokesman Names Two
Points of Negotiation
With Japan.

Washington, Dec. 1.-(By The
Associated Press 1.-THE Chinese
arms conference delegation in the
direct negotiations on the Shan
tung question, inaugurated today,
will according to Chinese spokes-
men proceed on the basis that
there are only two points on which
China is prepared to negotiate and
that these are Japan's demand that
Tsing-Tao be declared an open
port and Japans demand that vest
ed interest be respected. The lat
ter would be only partially suscept
ible to negotiation.
China, it was stated, cannot ne
gotiate control Of the Using Tao
Tsi-Nau-Fu railroad and has not
receded from her position taken at
Versailles that Shantung be uncon-
ditionally returned by Japan.
Naval Situation Delicate.
Washington, Dec 1.-(By The
Associated Press. THE situation
resulting from Japan's formal pro-
posal that the so per cent naval
ratio allotted her under the Ameri
can limitation plan be increased to
10 per cent, was regarded by Amer
ican officials today as a delicate one
but not without hope that her
spokesmen ultimately would accept
the original plan.
Entirely removed from the stage
of technical discussion as to the
basis OF calculating the naval ratios
on present fleet strength, the ques-
ton today, through the formal re-
quest of Baron Admiral Kato, sen
ior Japanese delegate, that the in
creased ratio be recognized as nee
essary to Japan's security, had be-
come matter OF policy for settle
ment by the plenary delegates of
the powers and not by their tech
nical advisers. The proposal on
this ground, it was known today,
had been presented personally by
Baron KatO to Secretary Hughes
and Arthur J. BalfOur. head of the
British delegation with the full
support, it was said of the Japan
ese government.
Reduction Is Logical.
Regarding the argument of ma
tionai security, the American dele
gates and experts, backed by the
opinion of the British delegates
held that its logical application
would mean a reduction rather
than an increase in the naval ratio
proposed for Japan, to which, it is
known on authority they are as
strongly opposed on that basis as
on the showing of existing fleet
comparisons. With the sub-com-
mlttee of experts of the Big Three"
naval powers at formal disagree
ment on adjourning yesterday as
TO the basis TO be used for these
comparisons, 1t was considered to-
Gay that further progress could lay
only IN discussion between the
american and Japanese delegates.
DIVIDING attention with the naval
situation today was the first meet
ing OF the Representatives of China
ana Japan with Secretary Hughes
and Arthur J. Balfour, as respec-
i've heads of the American and
BRUSH groups 10 lay a basis for
negotiations looking to a settle
ment of the Shantung controversy
Unconditional Withdrawal
The Chinese delegates announced
SIter accepting the American and
BRUSH offer of good offices" in
ne controversy that they were en-
lering he discussions prepared to
accept nothing less than uncondi-
uo1fat withdrawal of Japanese
S.airns in Shantung. In the absence
VI any definite Indication of atti-
tdue' 1t was assumed that the jap
sneSe Spokesman would contend
.or The reservations insisted on in
.ne recent diplomatic exchange be-
tween Toxic and Peking.