Norwich bulletin., 1921-11-29
TO WITHDRAW FOREIGN
 POSTAL SYSTEM FROM CHINA

Washington. Nov. 2s.-(By The A. P.) Taking its first direct action toward the liberation of China from foreign infuenc- es the arms conference today agreed on the withdrawal of foreign post offices and postal systems from Chinese soil.
 The decision was conditioned only on the maintenance by China of efficient postal facilities of her own, including re- tention of the present domestic organiza- tion by which a French co-director gen. eral acts as advisor to the Chinese pos tai authorities. January l. 1923, virtually was agreed upon as the date of with drawal, the Japanese alone withholding final approval on the point pending con- sultation with Tokio.
 Constituting the first concrete apph- cation of the principle of Chinese admin Istrative integrity as delineated in the -four points, of Elinui Root, the postal agreement is expected to be followed to- morrow by another providing for grad ual abolition of the system of extra ter ritorial rights under which dozen for eign governments have set up their own courts in China, and by a discussion of China's request that foreign troops quartered within her borders without treaty sanction be withdrawn.
 The question of troop withdrawal may lead the delegates into some of the most
 troublesome questions of the Far East. Some of the forces which the Chinese de- clare are in China without authority are Japanese Quartered along the line of the Shantung railway, and others are within the debated territory of South Manchu- ria. Thus the negotiations promise to touch upon the Shantung and Manchuria controversies for the first time, although 1t is considered likely that the real is- of x-iff ha mt over for discussion when the conference takes u7, in the very mean future. the specific ject of railway leases.
 Along with the foreign troop question the Chinese will ask for a consideration of the status of certain foreign tele- graph and wireless systems which they declare exist in China without her con- ! sent.
 In Japanece quarters 1t was said to- night that the Tokio government was ready to withdraw its troops from the area are as not covered by treaty stipu- lations as soon as China could insure the safety of Japanese nationals and prop erty within those zones. Since the Jap anese forces are more widely affected than those of any other nation by the Chinese request, the attitude of the Jap anese delegates was taken as forecasting | at least a declaration of principle fa- vorable to withdrawal.
 The search clause was understood to have been inserted nthe agreement aft CT the Chinese had charged that large quantities of opium were being carried 1 through CShina in the foreign post in contravavention of the snti-oplum law. The retention of the present French CO., director, NJ. Pickard-Destelan. 1t was l said. was stipulated solely in tho in- terest Of efficient operation ~ the | Chinese postal system.
 The declaration on extra terrtorialiiy
 provides that the governments of Spain.
 Norway, Sweden. and Denmark. which
 have courts in China but are not repre-
 sented here. would be invited to join : in the decision of the Washington con-
 tarAnce.