New-York tribune., 1921-12-16
Toxic Insists, However,
That Treaties Relating
to Manchuria ard Port
Arthur Are Inviolate
u. S. Backs China
In Revision Plea
Peking Offer of So Mil
lions i'm Gold Marks
for Railroad Accepted
BY Thomas Steep

" TA.oAiAA<N Wv, DcC. To- - Japan s
Especial interests" in China obtained
under the famous twenty-one demands
Of 1915 may be reviewed by the arma-
ment limitation conference in so far as
they are thought to infringe upon the
open door and territorial integrity poll
cies insisted upon by the United States.
At the same time it was learned that
the Japanese delegation, subject to the
approval OF their government, had ac-
cepted the Chinese offer of $4,000, 900
German gold marks for the Japanes sc
rights to the Kiaochau-Tsinau Railroad
in Shantung, China to pay also for per-
manent improvements on the railroad
made by Japan. The details Of the pro-
posed payment will be worked out at
later meetings of the two delegations.
Under the proposed review Of the
twenty-one demands Japan will not
consent to any discussion of the two
treaties concluded under 1ne demands
by which she acquired leaseholds on
Port Arthur and Dairen and ninety
leasehold on the South Manchurian
Railroad. The Russian leasehold ex-
pires in 1923, the extension running
until the year 2022. Japan's insistence
on keeping Manchuria as voiced by
Masanao Hanihara, the Japanese Vice
Minister for Foreign Affairs, ends
China's hopes of regaining that terri
tory, it is thought, so far as the con-
ference is concerned.
Treaties Held Domestic Issues
Japan will never consent to have
the legality of the treaties obtained
under the twenty one demands passed
upon by the conference" Mr.. Hani-
hara said tonight. owe consider that
the existence of these treaties is a
question concerning only the two coun-
tries-Japan and China"
1t was Japan's attitude which prompt
ed Secretary Hughes to postpone in
definitely the session of the committee
on Pacific and Far Eastern questions
on Wednesday soon after the Chinese
delegates had presented their plea for
a review of the twenty-one demands.
Abrogation Of all the demands, which
collectively China regards as inficting
the quasi-soveregnty of foreign
power on her domestic affairs, was
asked by the Chinese delegates.
While they will refuse to consider
the a5rogation of any of the demands,
it developed to-day that the Japanese
delegates are prepared to modify some
Of their rights other than those per-
tanning to Manchuria. These rights
we're acquired in various notes indie
pendently of the Manchuran treaties.
They provide that japanese shall be
employed to supervise the police de-
>o,.tr, f, Cf or%o
that no third power shall obtain the
right to operate enterprises in China
without Japan's consent, that Japanese
financial advisers shall be consulted in
the making of foreign loans, and that
generally Japan shall have preference
in all industry requiring foreign assist
ance. China contends that these priv
ileges are in violation of the four prin-
ciples framed by Elihu Root and
adopted by all the nine powers for
their guidance in settling Far Eastern
controversies, and that as such they
properly may be acted upon by the
conference.
Two Alternatives Presented
The Far Eastern committees deci-
veloped the question as to what method
may be employed to dispose of the is
sue. The twenty-one demands are Of
ticially before the committee. Two al
ternatives are proposed. One is that
the committee shall act upon them. The
other is that demands shall be reduced
to direct negotiations between the
Japanese and Chinese delegates as is
now being done in the Shantung con-
troversy. A spokesman for the Chi
nese said to-day that China would not
ton. He declared the twentyone de-
mands would be acted upon by the con-
ference or they would have to be
thrown out of the conference alto
gether.
Squarely behind China's plea for at
least modification of the demands,
Continued on next pass)