The New York herald., 1922-01-26
JAPAN GETS HARDING
| TO OFFER SHANTUNG
| SOLUTION TO China
Plan Is for Latter to Buy
Railroad by Deferred
Payments.
CONTROL IN FIVE VARS
Minister SIZE After White
House Conference Cables
Offer to Pekin.
A SETTLEMENT EXPECTED
Differences Now Said to Be
Only Infinitcsimal, but
Gap Is Vital.
A SETTLEMENT EXPECTED

WASHINGTON, Jan. % (Associated
Press).-The aid of President Harding
has been enlisted by the arms dele
gates to bring Japan and China into
agreement on Shantung.
Taking 2 direct hand in the Wash
ington negotiations for the first time
the President to-day urged the Chinese
10 accept the latest compromise offer
and thus remove from the field OF
controversy subject which has be-
come a serious barrier to the progress
OF the whole conference.
Whether the move Is to succeed APP
pears to rest largely with Pekin. The
Japanese already have indicated in
formally their willingness to make the
principal concessions proposed, and
tho President approached the Chinese
only after the Japanese Ambassador
had informed the State Department
that his Government was ready to ac-
cept tender of good Offices.
Plan Sponsored by Harding.
The settlement plan sponsored by Mr.
Harding deals only with the return Of
the Tsingtao-Tsinapfu Railroad, sub
stantially all other questions havin.;
been agreed upon in thu separate ex-
changes between the Japanese and Chi
nese. Under the proposal Japan woul I.
abandon her proposition for a loan to
China and the lattsr would purchase
Y, -.-ffl f,..a ~
at option five 10 fifteen years hence
China would receive possession within
five years. but would withdraw her
opposition to retention of a Japanese
traffic manager ami chief accountant
during the period OF payment
Although several Gays may be re-
quired to reach a final decision. one
Immediate effect OF the days develop
fnents was to bring into relief the i'm
portance of Shantrng in the general
scheme OF conference accomplishments
In moving TO bring the japanese and
Chinese together on Shantung President
Harding has fulfilled the role predicted
fer him by many of his friends when the
conference began. BY those close to
him il was said then that by holding
alfof from the ordinary course of the
negotiations he would be In a position
TO step In as an impartial mediator
should an impasse threaten the confer
cnce program.
Mr.. Ilardings appeal to-day was made
direct TO Minister SIZE of the Chinese
dciegation, who went to the White House
with Secretary Hughes. The three went
over the points of difference carefully.
the President giving evidence OF the
close touch he has maintained with the
negotiations as they have developed
through more than thirty meetings OF
the Japanese and Chinese plenipotenti-
aries. The Importance OF "a settlement
was stressed by the Chief Executive, who
pictured the benefits that would result
not only TO the broad purposes OF the
conference but TO the future tranquility
OF the Far East.
DR.. Sze Indicated that he had been
much impressed by the Interview, but
declared it had not yet resulted In a
settlement. Tonight the President :
Views are understood to have been
cabled TO Pekin. Meantime American
spokesinen declared the difference be-
tween the two delegations had been re-
duced to "infinitesinar' proportions and
that a failure to agree seemed out OF the
question.
Not Accidental Hating.