New-York tribune., 1921-12-31
China to Force
Shantlllag; Issue
Before Council
Will Act TO Break Deadlock
Unless Other Means Are
Found Previous to Next
Far East Board Meeting
Japan to Oppose Action
Asserts Subject Is Not on
Agenda and Conference
Cannot Act as Tribunal

WASHINGTON, Dec. 80 (By The
Associated Press).-- the face of the
repeated Japanese assertion that the
Shantung question was not upon the
agenda of the Washington conference
and did not come within the scope of
the meaning Of President Harding's
formal invitation TO participate in the
conference, Chinese spokesmen de
clared tonight that this question would
be injected into the conference by the
Chinese delegation to break the dead
lock in the conversations between the
Chinese and Japanese delegations on
the subject, unless some other means
to " solution was found before the
next meeting of the Far Eastern COM
mittee.
China cannot make any more con-
cesslons. In fact, she has made too
many already" Chinese delegate said
tonight. III the question is not set
tied satisfactorily through mediation
or otherwise the only thing for the
Chluese delegation TO do is to bring
1t before the conference and let the
conference settle it,"
Japan Demands Direct Settlement
The Chinese position was set forth
st the same time that Vice Foreign
Alnlster Hanihara of Japan said at a
meeting with newspaper correspond
ents that II China did not reconsider
ner position on the Shantung problem
It's solution would be very difficult
Secretary Hughes end Mr.. Balfour
might possibly tender their good Of
hces with the aim of settling the
question. he added, but he preferred
direct settlement between the repre-
sentatives of Japan and China.
II am still hopeful for such a direct
settlement" he added. We already
have made more concessions in this
matter than was proper. In fact we
exceeded the instructions of our home
government. When it seemed difficult
longer to continue the conversations
We submitted the whole matter to
TOXIC. Our government replied that
II would approve our program as far
as we had gone. despite the fact that
we had exceeded ouS original instruc-
tons. This means that the Japanese
government consents to our abandon
ing the original project for a Joint
management of the Kiaochau-Tsinan
Railway and will agree to restoration
OF the entire line to China provided
some suitable agreement can be made
Tor loan by japanese capitalists
and for the designation by China Of
certain Japanese experts on the rail-
road, such. for instance, as general
tTafllc manager and chief accountant.
But this is not asking anything re-
markable, because most of the Chinese
rallways are now conducted by the
floating of such loans in foreign coun-
tries. The suggested loan for the
Shantung railway cannot be made q
project Of the new international con-
sortiuln, because that consortium does
net apply to enterprises or loan agree
ments that already have been inaugu-
rated"
Mr.. Hsnihara. did not indicate who,
IN his opinion, should take the next
step IN 8 possible esumption Of direct
congregations. but said: eve stand
ready to met our Chinese friends at
any time, and if they have any sue-
gestion to offer that shows that they
are ready to reconsider the situation
we Will be glad to sit at the table with
them again But if they don't recon
slider, l must say that a settlement Of
this question viii be very difficult"
Would Reject Council Hearing
eff the good Offices of Mr.. Hughes
and Mr. Bafour should fail, and China
then should ask that the question be
brought up directly at the conference.
what would Japan'g attitude be-" he
was asked.
1T is most likely that we would not
agree to such a course" he replied.
This conference is not 8 court Of
arbitration or tribunal TO sit in iudg-
ment. Moreover. the Shantune oues-
tion is not upon the agerda of the CON
ference"
Although the Chinese delegation has
not been notified of the reply of the
Japanese government to its delega
tion's request for instructions, none of
the Chinese delegates anticipates the
possibility of q resumption of the
conversations between the japanese
and Chinese under the good offices of
Mr.. Balfour and Secretary Hughes, it
was said.
Definite instructions. Chinese
delegate said to-day, have been re-
ceived from the Chinese government at
Peking to Weld no more on Shantung.
II was added that regarding the twenty
. one demands the Chinese delegation
had acted within its instructions in
bringing the question before the con-
ference.