The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-02-02
TO RUSH FINISH
Every Effort Made to End Con-
ference Next Week.
Next and Last Plenary Session
Monday or Tuesday.
CHINESE PACTS BEING DRAWN
Tariff Increase in Orient Now
Chief Problem.
Twenty-One Demands Are Still
Unfinished Business"
CHINESE PACTS BEING DRAWN

Washington, Feb. 2.-The whip was
applied today to the tagging arma-
ment conference in a drive to have it
complete its work and adjourn finally
Secretary of State Hughes and the
other conference leaders are deter
mined to end the conference by the
last of this week or the first of next, if
it is humanity possible to do so. An
other plenary session of the confer
ence to clean up is in prospect for
Monday or Tuesday.
Material progress was reported to-
which are to consolidate the work of
the conference respecting Chinese
questions.
Are Three Major Questions.
One of these will deal solely with
China's tariff increase, according to
present plans the other will incorpor-
ate all the other decisions of the pow
ers restoring Chinese sovereignty.
Three major questions occupied the
attention of the delegates when COM
nittee meetings were resumed all
along the line today:
1. The Chinese Eastern railway.
2. The matter of selling arms to
China
3. The much discussed twenty one
demands.
Differences Only Minor Ones.
Only minor differences are holding
up the agreement respecting the Chi
nese Eastern railway. International
control will be continued until Russia
is in a position to reassert her dua!
control with China.
Italy is holding up the decision re-
specting arms to China. All the other
powers have signified acceptance ,)f
the resolution rxrhi0h r1a
to import arms and ammunition into
the strife-ridden country. The Italian
delegates ostensibly are awaiting ad-
vices from Rome before giving ad-
herence to this proposition.
The twenty-one demands alone pre-
sented an uncertain issue. The gen
eral expectation is that Japan will re-
nounce group v of those deman.1s
which was never accepted by the Chi
nese and which was left pending and
under discussion" Ther. short work
can be made of the other demands by
adopted by the conference. viii ich
tends to invalidate many of them.
Delegates Plan Departures.
Further evidence that the confer
ence is almost at an end was seen in
the announcement that the major part
of the British delegation. headed by
A. J. Balfour, will sail for home on
tHe inner ACQulIdnIdy tedNlnR New
York on Tuesday, February Z. =
1t is probable that parts of the
French and Italian delegates will
leave about the same date.
Assure Holland and Portugal.
Holland and Portugal, the two
smaller powers having substantial
interests in the Pacific regions, are
being informally brought into the
provisions of the four-powered Pa
rifio ~ Aff ioio "
today.
The powers signatory to the treaty
are addressing individual notes to Ho1-
land and Portugal assuring them that
tho not signatory powers, they are
nevertheless, to 'all practical pur-
designed to keep the peace of the
Pacific.
British Still Unsatisfied.
London, Feb. 2.-"Adoption of the
two treaties in the Washington con-
ference limiting navies and restricting
the use of new agencies of warfare is
a great step in world history" was the
official comment today at No. 10
Downing street. the official residence
of Premier Lloyd George.
The cabinet held a meeting at which
the treaties were discussed. Great
Britains disappointment over failure
to secure the scrapping of submarines
was the outstanding note in press
comment The Times, Chronicle and
Westminster Gazette pointed out that
the submarine regulations were made
quate- Only the scrapping of sub
marines. they said, could prevent
"hideous warfare" in the future.
It was indicated in official circles
that Premier Lloyd George may hold
up the Washington results as a good
example to follow at the international
economic conference at Genoa. It is
believed the premier will initiate
movement at Genoa for the reduction
of armies similar to the naval reduc-
ton program at Washington.
Jap Delegates Leave Feb. 21.
Washington. Feb. 2.-Baron Ad-
miral Kato. head of the japanese dele
CATION at the arms conference accom-
panied by Vice Minister of Foreign
Affairs Masono Hanihara and the en-
tire japanese delegation staff will sail
for Japan aboard the liner Taiyo Maru
from San Francisco on February 21. It
was announced today at the Japanese
embassy here.