Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-01-25
SIBERIAN ISSUE
TILED BY JAP
PLEDGE:
Agreement on ortifi-
cation of Islands in
Pacific Also Reached.
Shantung Question Is
Only Factor Delaying
Arms Farley Now.

Washington, Jan. 24.-(By The As
ISOLATED Press. Virtual settlement
of the Siberian question, SO far as the
Washington arms conference is con-
cerned, was understood to have been
reached Tuesday at the meeting Of the
far eastern committee, with the ac-
ceptance of the Japanese statement
promising complete withdrawal from
Russian territory upon establishment
of stable government.
: Secretary Hughes made state
ment of the position of the United
States in the course Of which he was
understood to have reaffirmed the
policy of the American government as
against territorial aggression.
Agreement on the Pacific islands
Notifications question, under which
the BONN islands adjacent to Japan,
are not to be fortified, also was re
ported to have been reached. The
Japanese delegates, it was said, agree
to final drafting OF the naval treaty
to include clause prohibiting fortifi-
cation of the BONN islands.
The treaty clause containing de-
scription of the Pacific islands which
should not be fortified was said to
have reached the point of final draft
ing.
French Side With Japs
Except for the French, who ex-
pressed confidence in the japanese
pledge to withdraw from Siberian soil
when stable conditions will permit, no
other delegation joined in the discus
sons. Secretary Hughes proposed the
readily accepted resolution by which
the item was wiped off the conference
program, to appear no more until the
pronouncements Of the two govern
ments are entered in the minutes OF
the next plenary session.
Meantime, efforts to bring senatorial
sentiment to bear TO hasten the Shan
tung negotiations failed after brief de-
bate on the subject in the senate
Without record vote the senate re-
jected the resolution of Senator Walsh
democrat, Of Montana, asking Presi-
dent Harding for information as to the
progress of the exchanges taking place
between the japanese and Chinese ns
side issue of the conference.
Administration confers
Tuesday night President Harding
Secretary Hughes and republican lead
ers of congressional committees tina,
concern themselves with foreign rela'
| lions had long conference. 1t was an
nounced that plans were talked ovel
| for congressional action to complete
! the American commitments figuring il
| the arms conference program. Thu
| president has announced that he in
tends to send all the conference treat
+, les to the senate for ratification sool
/ after the negotiations end and it ha!
been indicated that the administration
might also ask for q vote of approva
by the house.
The Shantung question Was said b,
delegates to be the only important fac
tor delaying the entire conference.
The question Of prohibiting exporta
ton of arms to China and the wire
less pooling plan which had been pre-
scented by the French, were discusse
but went over until Wednesday
meeting.
Secretary Hughes statement reply
ing to that of Baron Shidehara o
Japan, contained excerpts from tn
note of Secretary Hughes to Japa
last year, urging evacuation of Siberi
by the Japanese The American posi-
ton, it was said. took formal motto
Of the withdrawal promises made b
Japan and accepted it as assurance c
future retirement by the Japanes
from all Russian occupied territory.
The Pacific Notifications settlemer
did not come before the conferenc
Tuesday, but was said to have bee
arranged by informal meeting betwee
the American and japanese delegates
, The American delegates have agree
upon description Of the. Pacifi
islands to be affected under the fort
fjcation clause. The Japanese dele
gates, it was said. have agreed tina
This description should exclude tn
BONN islands from fertilization de
spite the popular sentiment in Japa
in support of the contention that thes
islands were part Of the japan mar
land. The Notifications clause wa
understood to be ready for inclusio
IN tho naval treaty, but without pros
poets of public and formal action unit
the naval treaty is presented at
plenary session.