The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-01-03
FRENCH DENIALS
OF CHITA CHARGE
TAKEN WITH SALT
Officially United States Must
Accept Word of Paris.
But Indications Point Strongly
to Truth of Siberian Charge.
BIG POWERS ARE ON WATCH
Chita Delegates Satisfied With
Bomb Thrown in Farley.
State Department Consents to
Examine Proof Offered.
BIG POWERS ARE ON WATCH

Washington, Jan. 3.-Great Britain
will offer no opposition to the adop-
tion by the arms conference of any
form Of resolution of amendment to
the four-power treaty which will
make it clear that the convention does
not apply to the Japanese homeland.
This was the statement made today
by a British spokesman VINO added,
however, that it was not for the Brit
ish delegates to take the initiative.
Arthur J. Balfour and Secretary
Hughes have been approached by the
Chinese arms delegation regarding the
existing deadlock with the Japanese
on Shantung and have been asked to
mediate. it was learned today on high
authority.
Believe France "OfficialIy."
Despite the denial so vehemently
announced by French and Japanese
delegations in Washington that Sc
cret agreement exists between their
governments over mutual policies to
be pursued in Siberia, the question
was uppermost in the minds of the
conference delegates today when they
resumed work after the holidays.
Officially, the denials of the French
and Japanese have been accepted by
the Anne lean govt rnment. Between
the words of two recognized and
friendly powers ard the word of an
unrecognized. unlimited, new repub
lie of doubtful stability, there can be
but one choice so far as the United
States government officially is con-
cerned.
Powers Arc On Watch.
The publication of these alleged
secret agreen- ents by the unofficial
delegates of the Far East (Chita) gov
ernment. however, has served to draw
maximum attention to the whole queS-
tion of Siberia, which is due to be
taken up b the conference shortly.
In view of the disclosures made, the
attitudes Of the French and Japanese
over the matter of a resolution pledg
ing the powers to observe the territor-
ial and perhaps the administrative in
tegrity of Russia and Siberia, will be
watched with absorbing interest by
the other powers of the conference.
VIII Examine Papers.
There were no indications today
that the United States plans to take
advantage of the Chita delegates in
vitation to have their papers exam
ined a state department repreSen-
tative. AS a matter of fact, there are
known to be in the files of the state
department reports from American
observers in the Far East which bear
a general resemblance to the docu-
lllGIle ILldue DuDllC mere III SuCH start
ling fashion by the Far Fasteners.
These reports date back months ago
before the advent of the republican
administration.
understanding" Rumored.
Norman H. Davis, under secretary
of state in the latter days of the Will
son administration, is known to have
expressed the opinion in his secret
appearances before the senate foreign
relations committee that a Franco
Japanese understanding" with re-
gard to Russia and Siberia already
was in existence or was being worked
out.
Meanwhile. Boris Sl1virsky. NJ.
Yazikoff and other members of the
Far Eastern delegation here are con-
tent to rest on their oars for the time
being. They reiterated today that
they have other documents bearing on
Franco-Japanese intrigue in the Far
East, and that these may be made
public at the proper moment.
Discussed UnofficiaIIy.
None OF the powers of the Wash
ington conference are Officially" tax
ing an cognizance of the Chita dis
closures but "unoff.cially" the revela-
tons are being discussed almost to the
exclusion Of submarines and the date
the conference adjournment two
highly regarded to participate of con-
Versation for the past ten days
The conference itself moved stead
lily toward adjournment today. Indi-
cations were when the experts re-
sumed the gathering up of loose ends
OF the naval program that the five
powered naval treaty VIII be ready for
submission to a plenary session of
the conference by the last of this
week.
The one deterrent factor is the Root
resolution. proposing restrictions that
virtually kill the submarine as a legal
Weapon Of warfare. So far, only the
American and British governments
have approved it entirely, the Japan
ese, French and Italian delegations re-
f('nUfiunah on,