Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-01-12

directly wrapped up with it. All Wash
ington was surprised by the announce
ment that the cabinet had taken no de-
cisions regarding the Cannes invitation.
The invitation had been in hand for sew
eral days More than ten days ago
President Harding had foreshadowed ac-
ceptance OF such an invitation, if aud
when received. Now a categorical ex-
PLANTATION of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. hesita-
ton is forthcoming. 1t is to the effect
that the President is wholly disinclined
to permit the Washington conference to
N crowded or the world stage, leaving
vital Far Eastern business unfinished, in
order to allow the Hmelight to be con
centrated upon Genoa
Put bluntly, Americas position is that
the great powers ought net to tackle new
business until business in hand is out
OF the way. From the United States
point Of view. the Washington agenda
hrlstles with unfinished matter. Shan
tung sAIanchuria and Siberia are its out
standing items. Hitherto they have been
considered at the conference piecemeaI
and not in any homogeneous fashion
promising broad, definiuve settlements,
except insofar as the four Root
resolutions regarding China are con-
cerned. The far-reaching twenty -one
demands" under which Japan holds
Manchuria and to which the United
States has never given sanction, remain
wholly untouched. If the conference ad-
jOurns, leaving them unmOlested. Japan
would be entitled to conclude her title
TO Manchuria was unchallenged. The
conference, which Secretary Hughes In
September declared would hold a
moral trusteeship" for Russia, has not
yet tackled that topic. II 1t adJourns
without doing So Japan would be justi
tied in thinking her. occupation OF
eastern Siberia and northern SaghaIin
was uncountested, too.
In British quarters there is outspoken
dlsinclination to push matters to an is
sue in either Manchuria or Siberia, Great
Britain's position is defined as one of
Observation-Disclosures. With regard to the
twenty demands, British spokesman
say the rights in Manchuria which ia
pan acquired from China in 1915 rest on
a treaty that Is indisputable in law.
When asked If rights secured under
duress" are incontrovertible, British
spokesman -retort history reeks with ex-
amples of-treaty rights obtain under du-
ress and which never have been ques
toned on that account Japans lack of
enthusiasm to precipitate discussion Of
the Manchurian or Siberian questions
needs 10 explanation.
1t is difficult to establish the exact
status of Americas plans to effect a
nine-power continental treaty" cover
ing the Far East Spokesman OF the
American delegation aver the treaty is
In "a state of CESSATION" 1t is known to
be causing perturbation and heart search
L.. Tvor fs
have been made and discarded. The ap-
parent difficulty is to evolve a scheme
that will not sanction too irrevocably
Japan's position on the mainland of
Asia.
The Harding Administrations present
hour preoccupatlon is to bring about
calm. considered and effective discussion
Of the whole Ear Eastern business be-
fore it is TOO late. The Administration is
deeply impressed with the widespread
sentimental insistence in America upon a
square deal for China. Speeches of Sen
ator Lodge, bitterly arraigning the
Shantung settlement at Paris, are being
recalled. President Harding's own vigor-
Gus reference to the same subject are
being brought forth as evidence that he
could not consistently see Washington
perpetuate "the crime Of Versailles
American business interests, fearful of
Japanese predominapce on the Asian
mainland are making their influence felt
at the eleventh hour, too. They declare
that valuable as the naval treaty and
four-power Pacific pact undoubtedly are
they leave unremoved the peril to Ameri-
can economic interests involved in a
Japan dominated Mdnchuria and Siberia
Copyright 1922, by Public Ledger
Company.