Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-12-05
DARK HOURS END
/ is REPORT FROM
WORLD CONFAB
BalfOur Takes Holiday and
Baron KatO Waits Word
From Toxic.
JURISTS TO VISIT CHINA
Special 70 Indiana Daily Times
and Philadelnhia Public Ledger.


and Philadelphia Public Ledger.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 5.-The confer
ence passed last week through one Of the
most serious stages it will encounter. 1t
vas inevitable there should be dark mo-
ments when the issue Of the 5-5-3 ratio
came up. Until the question actually
reached the Big Three" there was every
reason to regard with some alarm the
disagreement among the naval experts.
But the close of the week found optimism
on all sides. Secretary Hughes was more
than pleased with the situation. Mr.. Bal
four went of TO New York for a holiday.
Baron Kato awaited the response from
Toxic with genuine confidence.
PROGRES II
FAR EAST MATTERS.
In the discussions Of the Pacific and
Far Eastern problems, even greater
progress was made toward adjustment
of those questions which trouble the ma
tional heart Of China. The reports which
emanated from the council chamber Of
big three" relative to the Anglo Japan
csc alliance were by far the most inter
esting to official Washington. The very
positive assurances the alliance would
be strapped by Japan instead OF by Great
Britain, appeared to most observers to
offer the best way out Of it. DenOunCe-
ment of the treaty by Toxic would avert
the unfortunate consequences Of such &C
tion by London. The result will be the
same.
It remains to be seen how far the big
three actually have gone or will go to
ward a tripartite understanding or agree
ment in the interest of the peace of the
oil Il hoa
indicated his approval of the suggestion.
He does not favor a treaty OF alliance.
He has not forgotten the Senate. In
some quarters, during the week, there
was a disposition to believe the under
standing would include France. That. it
was felt, offered a nice way in which to
win French opinion TO a more favorable
attitude toward the conference
JAPAN AND CHINA
CONFER ALONE.
In the actual settlements affecting
Chinese sovereignty, the direct CONVEX
sations begun by China and Japan over
Shantung were by far the most signin-
cant. The Chinese delegates were not in
clined to enter the negotiations They
had declined from Picking for about three
months to do the thing they did under
slightly different circumstances here in
Washington. The Shantung question was
described as being both in and out of
the conference. The Chinese cOntended
IT was in, due to the presence OF Aneri-
can and British observers, The japanese
insisted it was out in taat the negotia
lions were solely between Japan and
China. Conference leaders refused smil-
ingly to decide that issue. They were
confning themselves to hopes for sue
cessful termination
The first question coming before the
special committee was that of the KiaO
Chow Tsinan railroad. Japan renewed
her proposal of Sept Z. She wants joint
SinO-Japanese control. China insists on
sole administration of the line. 1t for
merly was a private German enterprise.
In those matters affecting China which
the conference itself tackled, the aban-
donment Of leasehold territory stood out
as Offering the most vital issue There
was doubt as TO a successful outcome
The French made an offer, which. Oh its
face, seemed TO bear all the earmarks of
generosity However, they attached a
string which enabled them to pull their
leasehold out Of the fire when the ex-
pected refusal of Japan to yield Port
Arthur and Great Britain to let 90 OF
Kowloon was revealed 10 the conference.
APPOINTMENT
OF COMMISSION.
The decisions Of the conference relative
to the appointment Of an international
commission Of jurists which would visit
China to study the extraordinarily
problems and that bearing on the for
eign pOstonice, were satisfactory TO the
Chinese delegation. There was no con
crete proposal relative to the foreign
troops, and the telegraph and wireless
communications. Those questions were
referred to the subcommittee headed by
Senator Lodge. a special function was
assigned to that committee 1t will have
e special task. II VIII draft all the ex-
pressiOns by the conference which are to
assume the form of formal resolutions to
which the powers give their approval The
Senator's legislative experience has been
of inestimable value to the conference.
Meantime much work went on behind
the scenes. On many sides was encOun-
tered evidence Of the active statesman
ship of Senator Lodge and Elihu Root.
They were saying little but doing much.
They were keeping somewhat in the
shadow while the aggressive figure Of
Mr.. Hughes dominated the public con
versatiOns- But they were working far
in advance Of the actual negotiations over
the Far Eastern affairs as the smooth
ness Of procedure disclosed.-COpyrigh
1921, by Public Ledger Company.