New-York tribune., 1921-12-12
Five European Nations
Already Committed to
Agreement Britain and
u. s. Will Recommend
Japanese Consent
Referred to Toxic
China Only Obstacle, In
sisting on Shantung
and 2l Demands Plea
BY Thomas Steep

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11.-Great Brit
ain and the United States will soon
present for ratification by the Confer
ence on the Limitation of Armament a
nine-power agreement relating to
China. The details, it was learned to-
day, are being formulated by Elihu
Root, on behalf Of the United States,
and by Arthur J. Balfour and Sir Auck-
land Geddes, on behalf of the British
| Empire.
The new covenant will relate to the
continent of Asia, but particularly to
China and Siberia, in the same way
that the four-power treaty. adopted
yesterday, seeks to preserve peace IN
the islands of the Pacific Ocean. 1t
will provide for the participation by
| China on an equal footing with the
other signatory powers. AS basis
! for settling peaceably all future con-
| troversies in the Far East, it will tend
| to fulfill a hope expressed by Score
tary Hughes that "there may be
, brought before the conference an ap-
propriate agreement, which will deal
generally with the questions relating
to the Far East and to policies in
reference to China"
Seven Powers Already Committed
Five powers other than the United
States and Great Britain already have
signitied their willingness to ext.nd
international arbitration over the
Orient. They are France, Italy, Bel.
4, rri,,,o Ho1lor,{w and porf,yoa 4
Japanese delegation has referred the
subject to Toxic. China, while agree
ing in principle, has stipulated that
some changes in the status quo must
be assumed before her government vii
assent to commitment. The change:
she wants refer to Shantung and The
famous twenty-one demands imposed
by Japan.
China is eager to be included on ar
equal footing with other powers ir
any negotiations relating to the Fal
East. That was emphasized yesterday
when DR.. Alfred SEE, replying to Mr.
Hughes's proposal for Far Eastern
agreement, said: "The Chinese delega
ton anticipates, as indicated by oui
distinguished chairman, that this
agreement (the four-power treaty. will
tion in which all the powers, including
China, will be parties, which will ad
just conditions in the Far East upor
basis satisfactory to all the powers
and which, it is hoped, will provide fol
the amicable settlement of any future
controversies"
The Chinese delegates are anxious
to enhance China's prestige here. They
feel that if the powers recognize
China's right to participate in world
affairs involving her own future it will
tend to improve her domestic situa
ton, which is now disrupted by three
principal evils, namely, the apathy o.
the Chinese people, the existence o.
two or more antagonistic government
N in the republic and the financial ant
economic ruin which has ensued. Blu
the delegates, it is known, are deter
mined not to purchase prestige b!
asserting to an agreement which
recognizes the status quo.
DR.. Sees position is that he wants
present conditions in the Far East "ad
justed on a satisfactory basis" ant
he hopes "for an amicable settlemen
of any future controversies"
Chinese Problem Difficult
SO when Mr.. Root and his British
colleagues are framing the propose,
agreement which is to supplement- tn
four-power treaty they will have al
adamant Chinese nut to crack 1t il
known that the four Root principle
adopted on November 81 are accept
able to all the powers as a foundation
These provide that Chinas sovereignt,
(Cnnt1nus6 nm naue fhrca,