Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-11-17
= elegates Reserved
on Far East Plan
Suggested bY China


problems would. in the opinion of
some diplomatic experts, have a
sweeping effect on the aspect of the
whole Pacific and Oriental situation.
AS analyzed by some, the policies
proposed by the Chinese delegation
might not only do away, with the ex-
listing spheres OF influence in the
Ear East and put an end to extra
territorial rights within the Chinese
republic, but might also erect bar
rier against renewal of the Anglo
! Japanese alliance unless China were
given an opportunity of becoming a
party to it. The British do not take
\ this view.
/. Responsible officials of all the dele
/ cations reserved judgment regarding
the effects of the Chinese plan pre-
F! ferring to scrutinize it with greatest
care. The possible influence on the
Anglo Japanese alliance aroused liv-
hest interest in the discussions of
/ the delegates generally and every ma
I ton represented found much food for
J thought when its special interests
were considered in connection with
! the proposal.
! That portion Of the Chinese state
! mcnt to which the Japanese appear
! cd to attach greatest Importance as
/ affecting their individual national in
terests. was the section proposing
that all existing commitments relat-
4 ing to China should be examined
with a view to determining their
scope and validity" From the be-
ginning of the ornaments negotia-
! tions, Japan has maintained that
| CLOSED Incidents should not be con-
! sidered within the province of the
conference, and although her spokes-
men declare themselves ready to adj
nit any shortcomings of which world
opinion may find her guilty, they
assert that to go back through the
pages of history and question the val
idity of agreements made long ago
tate an agreement.
In the opinion Of many of those
connected with the conference, this
provision of the Chinese plan would
throw open to review by the arma-
ment conference a long list of cove
nants including the agreement grow
ing out of the famous II demands,
tho leases held by Japan on Shantung
and Manchuria and the numerous
contracts permitting foreign control
of railroads in China. In addition it
has been charged by Chinese author
itics that foreign nations have con-
i
Chinese potentates and all of these
might have to be laid on the table
il the proposed principles were ac
cepted. Some thought it likely that
tho Anglo apanese alliance might
also fall under the classification of
this section of the Chinese proposal,
although the section regarded as af
fccting it more directly is that by
which the powers would agree not
to conclude between themselves any
treaty or agreement directly affecting
China or the general peace of those
regions without previously notifying
China and giving her an opportunity
to participate"
in less than year the alliance
will expire by limitation unless re-
neWed. but the British hold to the
view that its effect on the Chinese
nation directly would not he sufficient
to warrant its inclusion in the class
of agreements that it is proposed to
bring under Chinese scrutiny.
In the view of the Chinese, the
greatest importance of the plan
would lie in the complete political
and economic emancipation they be-
lieve it would accomplish. They
place special stress on the provision
that existing limitations on China's
political. jurisdictiGnal and admins
trative freedom of action arc to be
terminated as soon as possible. de-
claring actual execution of such a
policy would mean not only the re-
Storation of much alenated Chinese
territory, but also the end of the re-
strictions on tariff and tax laws
which are held to be seriously haHdi-
Gaping national development.
Under a treaty arrangement with
all the principal powers China is now
! restricted from imposing a tariff OF
more than five per cent on imports
and in consequence has suffered
shortage of government funds which
her spokesman declare is likely to re-
suit in national financial calamity.
In addition. numerous items of her
tax returns are pledged for many
years to come in payment of foreign
obligations.
Whether the language of the
Chinese proposal is broad enough to
sweep away the extra territorial
rights long possessed by foreign
powers on Chinese soil is question
which may lead to considerable dis
clssion in the conference. In the
view of some. these rights fall clear
~ within the class Of Limitations on
China's administrative freedom.
while by others the words are inter-
preted L applying only to invocation
offering authority such as that eI-
crciscd by Japan along the lines of
the railroads that are under her con-
troll
1t seems certain that one effect
would he eventually to open up to
the world. the whole wide eXpanse of
Chinese territory. Today there are
only a few Chinese ports into which
the merchant shipping of the world
can go, and inland there are many
large cities about whose industries
the world really knows little because
of the obstacles erected to keep them
closed to trade.
The re-affirmation OF an extended
"open door" policy is looked upon as
an important possibility in view Of