The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-11-28
ROOTS FAR EAST
 PROPOSAL BETTER
 UNDERSTOOD NOW
American Delegates Want Ma tions To Apply Professed Principles of Fair DeaI-
 ing Toward China
By Associated Press

aShlngton, NoVemDer zf.-lne full significance of the American -four points," proposed by Elihu Root and adopted by the arms con ference to guide its discussions re- lating to China, is coming to be bet ter understood as the far eastern ne- gotiations pass through the "ac- cepted-in-principle" stage and ap- proach decisions on specific subjects.
 At first regarded as largely a re- iteration of general principles which had long been sanctioned on paper by all the powers, the -four points" now have, in fact. become the foun- dation on which China's friends in the conference hope to erect sys- tenn of re1orms that will In many re- spects reverse completely the prac- tices of the past and present.
 In this far-reachine develop
 ment. the American delegation
 has taken the leadership by maL-
 ing known in decisive manner
 that it regards the Root resoIu-
 ton has something vastly more
 than a few finely turned diplo-
 
 sition K. thnt by accepting the
 four points," the participating
 nattons have bound themselves
 solemnly to apply in a concrete
 way the fong-professed princi-
 pies of fair dealing toward
 China, and to proceed without
 subtcrfuge to give China as great
 a degree of independence as con
 ditions WIT warrant.
 Powerful support from outside the American delegation has strength ened that position, and in the present discussions of tariff autonomy, extra territoriality and postal rights, the trend of the negotiations never has been permitted to stray far from the Root platform. In every case pro- posed, solutions have been scruti- nized in the light of appropriate sec- tions for the four points" with the result that the four American prin- ciples have become, in fact, as well as in name, the dominating element of the discussions.
 Twenty-one Demands.
 How this method of procedure will affect such troublesome problems as Shantung, Manchuria and the "twen- ty-one demands" if they come before the conference, Is yet to be demon- strated. It is pointed out that the Root principles were cast in broad terms In their reference to Chinese integrity. the open door and special privileges. but no one who can speak authoritatively has been willing to volunteer an interpretation of these references as they apply to specific questions not yet before the con- ference.
 
 toriality and postal rights to be dis posed of tomorrow, through specific declarations now in preparation by sub committees. there was an expec- tation in some quarters tonight that the subject of leases, including those held by Japan in Shantung and Man churia, might be brought up for dis cussion in the very near future. China's delegates have declared their intention to bring the Shantung and Manchurian problems to the atten- tion of the conference as soon as oc- casion offered, and Japan has indi- cated repeatedly that she does not regard these subjects as within the province of the negotiations. The attitude of the other nations has not been defined. but it Is expected that some feature of the -four points" will be brought forward to guide in a decision.
 Shnntung RumOrs
 Meantime, the delegates are hear ing many rumors of an attempt to secure an agreement on Shantung. at least, outside the conference. Such a development apparently would he welcomed by all the powers. but their spokesmen appear skeptical as to its probability.
 In its consideration of China's plight, 1t was explained tonight in authoritative quarters, the conference is considering the situation as di- vided, roughly. into three sections. First, there has been a grouping of all the sovereign rights that China still retains, with general agreement that all of these must be preserved to her. In the second group have been placed all the rights that are in dispute, as result of various treaties and other agreements, with the understanding that these would be restored to China in as great a degree as appears possible. The third group comprises rights which China declares have been seized from her without any pretext whatever, and which 1t Is the desire of the conference to give back unless valid
 
 reasons can be produced to the con trary.
 Under the -four points" accepted by the powers, it was said. the con- ference would be bound to enlarge the first of these three groups as much as present conditions warrant. It is realized that in this process considerable time may be required for investigations of fact, and that in the end each nation by it's sov- ereign right, must judge for itself what it's procedure will be. But it Is the expectation of the American delegation, at least, that the four points" must become the yardstick Dy which these decisions are measured. WOMAN SHOOTS SWEETHEART
 By Associated Press
 Memphis. November 27.-Herbert Bingham, musician and organist at a local theatre, died early. today as the result of gunshot wounds sus>