Evening star., 1921-12-14
N|NE-POWERPACT
ON CHINA PRESENT
CONFERENCE PLAN
Peking Would Be Signatory in
Newest Proposal to
Cure Her Ills.
BREEDING SPOT OF WARS
UNLESS ACTION is TAKEN
Treaty Would Be Subject to Rati-
. fcation by U. S. Senate-Shan-
tung Parleys in Crisis.

. fcation by U. S. Senate-Shan-
tung Parleys in Crisis.
Ey the Associated Press.
The Chinese delegation today
asked of the powers represented
I'm the far eastern committee OF
the Washington conference that
the famous tyventy-One demands
treaty of 1915 be abrOEated.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.
A nine-power treaty dealing with
. China, and to which China will be a
signatory, is the present plan of the
Washington conference. This was
stated on the highest authority.
With the settlement of the ques-
of the limitation of naval ornaments
in sight and the four-power treaty
relating to the Pacific islands al
ready signed. the Chinese question
looms as the most important to be
dealt with before the conference COM
pletes it's labors.
Long n Sore Spot.
China has long been recognized as
sore spot which may breed a war Of
huge magnitude unless steps can De
taken to limit the activities OF outside
powers with regard to China and to
assure China a square deal.
1t was definitely stated today that
the agreement with regard to China
will take treaty form. and will be
subject to ratification by the Senate
of the United States, as will be the
four-power treaty relating to the Pa
cific islands and the treaty, still to
he drafted, relating to the Limitation
of naval armaments.
One problem relating to China, with
which the conference proper Is not
at this time dealing. is the Shantung
of the former German territory and
railroad to China by the japanese.
This is under consideration by the
Japanese and Chinese delegates. In
the presence of American and BRUSH
observers.
shantung Farley Critical.
The negotiations regarding Shan
tung,s it was learned t42e
reached a very delicate stage-in fact'
a critical point The Chinese have
advanced a proposal to pay Japan for
the Eiaochow-Tsninanfu railroad. The
japanese, on the other hand, desire
to retain a measure of control OF the
road.
In the event of the failure of the
Japanese and Chinese delegates to
reach an agreement on this Important
phase of the Shantung question. 1t
was suggested today that the prin-
cipal delegates of China. japan, Great
Britain and the United States. MI:
Sze, Baron Kato. Mr.. Balfour and
Secretary Hughes, might be asked to
discuss the matter. In the nope OF
arriving at solution
That the Chinese would not agree
to sign any treaty with regard TO
is settled satisfactorily was the be-
lief today in some quarters.
Will Include Root Principles.
The proposed treaty will embody the
work of the conference in regard to
China. 1t will contain the four prin-
ciples laid down in the Root resolu-
1ions already approved by the con-
ference and which go particularly
into the matter of the "open door" in
China, among other things. They are:
"1. To respect the sovereignty, the
administrative integrity of China.
".2. To provide the fullest and most
pnembarrassed opportunity to China
TO develop and to maintain for herself
an effective and stable government.
"'3. To use their influence for the
purpose of effectually establishing and
maintaining the principle of equal op-
portunities for the commerce and in
dustry of all nations throughout the
territory of China. and
ooh
tage of the present conditions in or
der to seek special rights or privi-
1cges which would abridge the right
of the subjects or citizens of friendly
states and from countenancing action
jnimicable to the security of certain
states
Working COtemporaneOualy.
The work of the conference in re-
gard to Chinese matters has gone
along cotemporaneously with the
work on Limitation of naval arma-
ments and the island problems. So
it is possible to say that the proposed
treaty will also embody the resolu-
tion adopted by the conference to
remove the foreign post offices from
China by January 1, 1923. allowing
China to run her own postal system.
1t will embody the resolution al
ready adopted providing that the
neutrality of China shall be respected
in the event of future wars.
twill embody the resolution
bringing to an end secret treaties
made by outside powers with regard
to China, where such treaties would
violate the principles laid down in
the Root resolution.
Would Provide for Commission.
1t will embody the resolution pro-
riding for the appoipkment of a COM
mission by the powers to study con-
Gitions in China with a view to doing
away with the extraterritoriality
now maintained by them in China
the extraterritorial courts particu-
larly.
The conference is still at work on
matters pertaining to leased terri
tories in Chinn, with a view to hav-
ing some of them, if not all, return
ed to China, and it may be expected
that the new treaty will deal with
this matter too.
The conference has before it the
question of foreign troops in China
and the treaty likely will deal with
this matter. too.
Spheres of influence maintained by
the powers in China also will be dealt
with in the treaty, 1t is said.
Customs Tariffs Vital.
One of the most important questions
relating to China being considered by
tho conference-fhroueh a subcom-