Evening star., 1922-01-31
Conference Advances to Final
Stages After Settlement
of Article Nineteen.
OPEN SESSION CALLED
FOR TOMORROW MORNING
Harmony in Pacific Reigns After
all Agree to "A Fair
Proposition"
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

ington conference is on the eve of
completing the naval limitation
treaty and also the proposed nine
power treaty dealing with China
Agreement on article 10 OF the
naval Limitation treaty relating to
fortificatio1s in the Pacific islands
and on the shantung question has
| made it possible for the conference
| to advance to its final stages.
Following a meeting of the Chi
| nese and Japanese delegates on the
Shantung question this morning, it
was formally announced that an
agreement had been reached in re-
gard to the much discussed Shan
| tung railroad. so far as all essential
points are concerned.
| Omcial Statement.
+ The official statement issued fol-
| lowing this meeting was as follows:
The thirty-fifth meeting of the
Chinese and Japanese delegates re-
lative to the Shantung question was
held in the Pan-American Union
building at 10 o'clock this morning.
all essential points in regard to the
| question of Tsing-Tao-Tsinansu rail-
way and on certain other questions.
The two delegations will meet again
at o'clock this afternoon for the pur-
pose OF drafting
The agreement on the Shantung
railroad reached by the Chinese and
japanese is understood to be in line
with the compromise proposed by
Secretary Hughes and Mr.. Balfour.
This provides for the purchase Of
nrs, the rail- railroad by the Chinese; with
| ments. There is to be, it is under
stood. director of the railroad who
! is a Chinese. The traffic manager,
however, and chief accountant, are
to be japanese, it is understood. un-
I'll the railroad has been entirely paid
for. The details OF the agreement
have not been officially announced.
Open sessisn Tomorrow.
The stage was being set today for
an open session OF the Washington
| conference in Continental Memorial
Hall at II o'clock tomorrow morn
ing. This is the first open session OF
the conference since December 10. II
also appeared probable the open session
would be continued during the afternoon.
The open session has been called
particularly to pass upon the naval
limitation treaty. At 800 O'Clock
this afternoon the committee on
limitation of armament will meet to
pass on the treaty.
The article relating to fortifications
in the Pacific was finally agreed to
last evening at meeting of the
naval subcommittee. after the Japa-
mesa delegation had been Informed that
the latest formula describing the is
lands which were not to be fortified
had been accepted by the Toxic gov
ernment. The agreement in regard
to the Notifications Of the Pacific is
ready published. The only feature
of the agreement which contained An
element of surprise was that the
-Aleutian Islands. belonging to the
| United States. are included in the is
! lands which are not to be further
| fortified.
Fair Proposition.
The agreement was characterized
| by spokesmen for the American dele
gstion as "a fair proposition" 1t
establishes reign of peace in the
Pacific, SO far as the construction of
| fortifications is concerned, for the
life of the naval limitation treaty, a
matter of fifteen years. and perhaps
for much longer. il none of the pow
ers give notice of abrogation.
Under the terms of the agreement
/ the island possessions which the
| United States now holds or may ac-
| auire in the Pacific ocean. except
! those adjacent to the coast Of the
| United States, Alaska and the Pan
| anna Canal Zone, not including the
Aleutian Islands. but including the
| Hawaiian Islands, are to remain in
status quo SO far as fortification is
concerned.
The status quo is to be maintained
so far as the British are concerned
as follows: Hongkong and the in
sular possession; which the British
empire now holds. or may hereafter
| acquire in the Pacific ocean; east of
! the meridian of 1l0 degrees. east
longitude. except those adjacent to
the coast of Canada. the common
! tory and New Zealand. So far as
Japan is concerned, the status quo is
| to be maintained in the kurile islands.
! the Doin ishnds. Amami- -Oshima, the
l.oochoo islands. Formosa and ,o me Pes-
!; possessions in the Pacific ocean which
Japan may hereafter acquire.
| No Restriction On Repairs.
Maintaining the status quo. while
no new fortifications or naval bases
shall be established. there is no re-
striction upon repair and replacement
| of worn -out weapons and equipment.
| such as Ia customary in naval and
! military establishments In time OF
The far east committee still has to
whip into shape the nine-power
treaty on China. Some OF the draft
(! ing work has already been done on
] this treaty. number OF separate
! conventions in regard to the opera
| tion OF submarines in time OF war.
| the use os poison gas, etc, are still
! to be approved by the conference
(; also.
fast as possible in an effort to COM
| plete its work this week. However,
in some quarters, 1t was said today
| that 1t probably would be necessary
to continue in session during part OF
| next week at least.
The subcommittee on the Chinese
| Eastern railway met at noon today in
| an effort to draft a resolution recon-
| mendirg International control of that
| railroad until its Russian owners are
/ able to assume their control again.
| The far east committee will meet
/, at o'clock this afternoon. 1t still
| has to consider the question Of the
| Chinese Eastern railway, leased ter