Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-12-31
THREAT To DUMP
SHANTUNC |NT0|
PARLEY IS MADE
China Proposes Trying
to Break Deadlock by
Appeal to Conference.
Japanese Delegation
Says 1t Can't Be Done
as It's Not on Agenda.

Washington, Dec. 30.-(By The As
sociated Press jim the face of the
repeated Japanese assertion that the
Shantung question was not upon the
agenda of the Washington conference
and did not come within the scope of
the meaning Of President Harding s
formal invitation to participate in the
conference, Chinese spokesmen de-
clared Friday night that this question
would be injected into the conference
by the Chinese delegation to break the
deadlock in the conversations between
the Chinese and Japanese delegations
on the subject unless some other
means to a solution was found before
the next meeting of the far eastern
committee.
'Cbina cannot make any more con-
cessions; in fact, she has made too
many already Chinese delegate
said. IF the question is not settled
satisfactorily through mediation or
otherwise, the only thing for the Chi
nese delegation to do is to bring 1T
before the conference and let the con-
ference settle it"
Hughes or Ba!four as Mediators
The Chinese position was set forth
at ADOuG the Sdule tiIIie tudI NAGc VI
eign Minister Hanihara, of Japan, said
at meeting with newspaper men that
If China did not reconsider her posi-
tion on the Shantung problem, it's
solution would be very difficult. Sec
retary Hughes and Mr.. Balfour might
possibly tender their good offices with
the aim of settling the question, he
added but he preferred a direct set
tlement between the representatives of
Japan and China
II am still hopeful for such direct
settlement he added. "We have al
ready made more concessions in this
matter than was proper. In fact. we
exceeded the instructions of our home
government"
Japs Say Chinese Must Bulge
Mr. Hanihara did not indicate who,
in his opinion. should take the next
step in a possible resumption of direct
conversation. but said:
1--WE stand ready to meet our Chi
nese friends at any time and if they
have any suggestion to offer that
shows that they are ready to recon-
slider the situation. we will be glad to
sit at the table with them again. But
if they don't reconsider, ! must say
that settlement of this question will
be very difficult
The vice minister said that to the
government and people of Japan, who
were deeply desrous of an early set
tlement Of the Shantung problem,
there seemed nothing unreasonable in
the Japanese standpoint. He per-
sonally believed that if all feeling and
misunderstanding which chad tended |
to becloud the issue could be re
moved, there was no reason to sup |
pose an agreement could not be |
reached.
Japan Would Balk At Submission
IF the good offices of Mr.. Hughes
and Mr.. Balfour should fail, and |
China then should ask that the ques- |
ton be brought up directly at the con
ference, what would he Japan's atti- |
tude ?" he was asked.
ut is most likely that we would not |
agree to such a course" he replied. |
''This conference is notsa court of ar
bitration or a tribunal to sit in judg I
ment. Moreover, the Shantung ques
ton is not upon the agenda of the
conference"
The minister reiterated that he did I
not regard the Shantung question as
coming within the scope oA the mean
ing of President Harding's formal in
vitation to the Washington conference
when the president referred to the
desirability of removing possible causes
of controversy in the far east