Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-01-10
BATTLE
FLAG Of FARLEY
Conference Wakes Up to
Grave Possibilities of Issue
Once Subordinate.
MORAL ISSUE IS RAISED
Mere Fact of Deadlock Means Less
Than Public Attention
It Diverts.
MORAL ISSUE IS RAISED
BY WILLIAM +. ELLIS.

"Shantung" has suddenly become a
battle flag in this peace conference.
Over the week end Washington seems
to have wakened up all at once to the
grave possibilities of this issue, which a
few days ago conference circles regard
ed as distinctly subordinate. China is
trying to wreck the conference" said
one Japanese spokesman, with feeling,
as he admitted that if the Shantung
question is not satisfactorily settled
there will be serious doubt about the
ratification by the American Senate of
any OF the conference documents.
TO say that the crisis is acute would
be platitudinous. What appears more
serious than the actual deadlock is the
evidence that even the conference circles
have come TO realize that something
IKE moral issue has been raised. The
mere fact that the conversations be-
tween Japan and China have come TO
an impasse means less than that there
by public attention has been directed
10 certain large and grave possibilities
that confront the delegates.
Failure to he Serious.
Certainly the seriousness of a fail
ure to deal with the abuses in the
orient which American public opinion
was taught to understand during the
debates over the Versailles treaty has
become clear to politicians in high
places Report says that at the pres
ent moment the margin Of votes for
ratification of the four-power treaty
is only about half a dozen. Looking
even further ahead, it is apparent
that what the voters may think of
the work of the conference next No
vember is of more Importance, polit-
n OF a
think of it on the day of adjourn
ment.
A first consequence of the develop
ments of the past two days is rather
clear evidence that the conference
will not adjourn this week, or next
week either British Spokesman say
that Mr.. Balfour will surely sail on
Saturday, but that decision is subject
to revision. The American delegation
has made it plain that this conference
is not going to be damned or rushed
at the end. and that the agenda will
be followed in due course until all the
items have been disposed of. Siberia,
with the long list of questions in
volved, will be duly considered when
IL is reached on the agenda, the press
has been officially informed.
Tactics Cannot Be Repeated.
There is evidence that the tactics
followed in Paris cannot b. repeated
here. If you affront Japan by in
slsting upon the settlement of Shan
tung and upon a discussion of con-
ditions in Manchuria and Siberia you
will wreck the conference is the
warning that one hears. To which
one also hears the answer: IF moth
ing is done to remove the causes of
friction in the far east, America will
have broken faith with Asia and lost
the prestige which is her best posses
sion there; future war in the Pacific
will have been made inevitable, and,
of most immediate Importance, the
Senate will not ratify anything, and
SO the state of affairs will be back
where 1t was three months ago. with
the Anglo-Japanese alliance in full
force"
Last Friday the Chipese delegation
got clearance papers from PekinG so
that 1t may now proceed full steam
ahead. in whatever direction it
please
Thus supported and conscious of the
aroused feeling in China that would
make 1t unwise for the delegates to
return home without satisfactory
settlement of the Shantung question: :
and aware also of the strong moral
backing in this country. the Chinese
delegates are holding their ground
firmly. They have appealed for the
good offices of Secretary Hughes. but
the Japanese refuse to join them in
this request, so America is rather
helpless, although it is known that