, 1921-09-22
THE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS.

Among the suore important queSlons TO be conSid-
cred at the Washington conference on limitation of
armament the following may be enumerated:
The Territorial Integrity of China.-Russia, Great
Britain and Japan have on occasions considered taxi
ing control of parts Of China. Great Britain took
Hong Kong. Japan annexed Corea, formerly subject
to China, in 1910. Special rights and concessions
granted her in Manchuria, one of China's most impor-
tant dependencies has caused her to be accused of
seeking complete domination of that country to the
prejudice of Chinese territorial integrity.
The Open Door-This is the policy of equality of
commercial opportunity for all nations alike, sponsor
ed by John Hay. In so far as it has worked against
the selfish interests of the big powers, they have
sought to ignore it while rendering it lip service. The
doctrine was not strongly upheld during the war, and
its arce was weakened by the Lansing-Ishii agree
ment, which was interpreted as recognizing Japan's
special interests in China on account of her geograph-
ical proximity. Japan's twenty-one demands on China
we're in fragrant violation of the "open door" principle.
Regulation of Spheres of Infuence.-Certain terri
tories of China are claimed as special spheres of IN
fuence by England, France and Japan. Russia and
Germany also formerly had their claims, but these
have largely passed into ynpan's hands. In these
spheres the different nations claim exclusive rights to
railway, mining and development concessions. Shan
tung was formerly the German sphere. Japan's &C
Invites there have raised the socnled Shantung ques-
ton, which Japan considers a closed incident, but
which America has never accepted as settled.
The Sterilization of China-Since the last years of
the Chinese empire (Which was overthrow in 1911),
political and financial conditions in China have been
constantly disturbed. To restore order and re-estab-
lish the country's finances three alternatives have been
suggested: (a) Japanese control of China; OBJ allied
control; () Cooperation through the Consortiun,
II TIC yolul dCllOn 10 SNrtHRLntu II kONeIQlntnE
OF the Chinese and help preserve order and develop
the country by joint Chinese and foreign cooperation.
The Renewal of the AngloJapanese Alliance.-This
agreement between England and Japan for the pro-
lection of their mutual interests in the Pacific expires
in 1922. Its renewal was warmly debated at The re-
cent British imperial conference and is apparently
strongly desired by Japan.
Policy of the Powers Toward Eastern Siberia
Eastern Siberia, at present included in the so-called
Far Eastern republic, was formerly part of Russian
Siberia. Since the collapse of Russia it has been the
scene of Bolshevik and Japanese, American and Eu-
ropean activities. The Trans-Siberian railway passes
through it, and it is, therefore, of great Importance
in the development of the east. Will it return to
Russia? Will it remain an Independent republic? Will
it pass under Japanese dominion? Will the powers
recognize that Japan has prior rights there?
Sakhalin--Shall Japan possess the northern half of
this island in the Sea of Okhotsk?
Yap-Final disposition OF the cable rights and po-
litical control of the island; which is of great STRAIT
egic value to the United States in case of war.
Observation-Disclosures, Canada and New Zealand
join with the United States, in insisting for economic
reasons on the exclusion of cheap labor from the
Orient. The question is not one of race, creed or
squarely, it can be adjusted on reciprocal basis. Let
America be granted no rights in Japan or China not
granted to Japan or China in the United States. Make
it clear that discrimination is not racial, but on eco
nomic grounds. E,
Fertilization or Dismanting of American and Japa-
nese outposts in the Pacifc-This includes Hawaii,
the Philippines, Guam and Samoa. The problem
promises to be one of the most delicate and difficult.
Is America willing to leave the outposts defenseless,
to be gobbled up by the first power that seeks to imi-
tate Germany?