Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-01-19
ACCEPT'PLAN
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(ContInueo from rage One)
Washington conference is concerned.
1t was said tonight that the elimi-
mated article was not considered OF
vital importance, since reenaining
provisions Of the plan would permit
examination of existing concessions
where both parties agreed to it.
AS adopted, the open door resoiu-
ton contains a mutual pledge not to
seek spheres of influence or monopo-
lies in China in the future. and auth
orizes creation Of an international
board of reference with power to in
vestigate and report on any case
which seems to involve violation of
the principle Of equal economic and
commercial opportunity.
Turning to the problem of railway
control in China. The committee laid
the ground work for tomorrow's dis
cussions by hearing two resolutions
proposed for promoting equitable de-
velopment of Chinese rail facilities.
The first. INTRODUCED by Sir Auck-
land Geddes. of the British delegation,
would pledge the powers against dis
criminatory practices on roads under
their control. The other. presented
by Secretary Hughes, would express
a hope that the transportation lines
in China might be welded eventually
into unified system under Chinese
control.
In neither of the proposals was
there exception made in regard to
the Shantung or Manchurian lines.
now under Japanese supervision. but
the committee recognized the separ-
ate status of the Chinese eastern
railway by referring that whole sub
ject to special ub-committee of
far eastern experts. The latter read.
traversing the border between Man.
churia and Siberia, now is under the
control of an inter- allied commission.
and there have been indications that
q retention of chat arrangement
would be recommended in view Of
the present unsettled conditions in
Russia.
The separate negotiations between
the Japanese and the Chinese over
the general Shantung problem were
advanced one more step today by
an agreemnt for return to China Of
the coal and iron mines in Kiao
Chow leased territory. On the pivot
al question of the return of the ShaA-
tung railway, however, there were
no further developments, both dele
cations saying they were still await
ing instructions from their govern
ments regarding the Hughes Bal
four compromise suggestions.
In Chinese quarters the subject of
existing concessions is regarded as
one of the most important of the is
sues Of the far eastern, and it is
asserted that the proposal taken out
Of the open door resolution today is
certain to find it's way back into the
discussions in one form or another.
The position of the Chinese is that
until there has been a complete re-
adjustment of the concessionary ar
rangements in China. full economic
and commercial development will DO
impossible.
At today's committee meeting both
Albert Sarraut, for the French, and
Baron Shidehara for the japanese
asked further questions regarding the
meaning of the Hughes open door
proposals, Baron Shidehara suggest
ing that practical application of the
board of reference scheme might he
difficult in view of the necessity of
SO constituting the board that its
membership would be Agreeable to
every one. Sir Auckland Geddes, for
no Drift Oh,
that the process might be simplified
by selecting panels from which men,
bers could be chosen by consultation
among the various foreign offices.
Barop Shidehara then touched on
the existing concessions provision
embodied in article four of the Amer
lean resolution proposing an amend
ment by which the jurisdiction of the
board would apply only to conces-
sions sought or granted in the flu
ture. While the discussion was pro-
ceeding, Sir Robert Borden of the
British delegation suggested that the
whole article be stricken out entire
ly and his proposal was accepted all
around the table.
Baron Shidehara made a speech
comparing the original open door de-
claration of John Hay with the Ian
guage of the resolution proposed by
Secretary Hughes and suggesting
that through the intervening years
the scope of the policy had been ap-
probably broadened. Mr.. Hughes re-
piled that his proposal differed from
the Hay pronouncement in his opin-
ion. only in that it was more specific.
Baron Shidehara also called atten-
ton that China would have a part to
play in the opening up of Chinese
territory under the new open door
agreement and invited the Chinese
delegation at some future time to lay
before the committee the intentions
of it's government in that direction.