The Washington herald., 1922-01-12
STRINGS ON OFFER
Celestial Delegates Say
Compromise Would
Mean a Revolution.
HUGHES, BALFOUR
READY TO MEDIATE
Suggestions Include One
To Let international
Commission Decide.

Japan. will withdraw her troops
from shantung.
Her delegation so agreed during
morning and afternoon confer
ence between the Japanese and Chi
nese delegations yesterday.
But. Japan tied a big string on
her acceptance. 1t was made con-
tingent upon a final amicable ar
rangement" between the two pow
ers regarding the future ownership
Of the Tsingtao-Ts -Tsinanfu Railway
system. the big point that has been
in dispute ever since the Chinese
delegation refused to sign the treaty
of Versailles because Shantuug was
not handed BACK to the Celestial
republic.
That was the Chinese situation
last night. IL will be the situation
until the present conference breaks
up unless the outside pressure now
being exerted in both Tokyo ana
Pelin secures compromise that
viii allow settlement of the railway
policy.
The Chinese delegation as late
as last night said very frankly they
would not dare 10 return home
without having assurances that the
railway will be returned TO China
They claim that a countryside revo-
luton would follow acceptance of
any arrangement that allowed
Japan to retain a mortgage on the
road.
scest of Propaganda.
This all may be so! Certain con-
ference delegates, however, insist
that there is a great deal of propa-
ganda hidden behind the Chinese
position. They profess 20 believe
that there is a shifting for position,
and they say that there ought to
be no good reason wny~ compro-
mise could not be worked out One
suggestion. that will be made, viii
be that the Japanese transfer cen
troll Of the railway to an interna-
tional commission selected by the
present conference ana that that
commission administer the affairs
of the railway for a stated time at
the expiration of which the road
shall be turned back to China
without any strings whatever.
The japanese have justified their
position by saying that their ma
tional existence depends 10 a very
considerable extent On being as
sured raw materials from Shantung
that must be transported over the
railway. They profess to believe
that IL the Chinese get full control
OF the road, they will discriminate
against the japanese merchants and
others. In this. too, there is a great
zeal OF bunk. according to the views
of well-posted delegates
Messrs- Hughes and -Ralfour are
ready to propose a method of set
tlement when IL is asked for bv
both sides. So far the Chinese have
told their troubles to the two states
men. The Japanese have had very
little to say, and they have eyinced
no great curiosity to learn what
the leaders of the American and
Eritish delegations would consider
a fair method of solution.
In Touch with Tokyo.
Following the adjournment of
yesterdays conferences, Mr.. Hsni-
bari, speaking for the Japanese
sa id:
Japan went beyond her instrue-
tions In her preliminary offer to,
China for the adjustment Of ths
SiNooNAOI. DuI emma mao
accepted this proposal the Japanese
delegation was prepared TO use its
good offices to have the home gov
eminent accept the proposition
Made in Washington. When China
refused to accept>i II was necessary
to report back to Tokyo. The re-
suit was that the Japanese govern
ment issued very explicit instr,,r
11dA sa~ha aatR
ing. Japan has been as liberal asd
as fair as 1t is possible at this
time to be. We are quite sure
however. that IL the railway prob
lem cannot be settled now eventu-
ally there will be a change OF senti-
ment that will make a settlement
possible"
Mr.. Hanihari said that the with
drawal of Japanese troops from the
peninsula will take place within