Evening star., 1922-01-22
ny N. O. MESSENGER.

IlAINDAA>~A "~
- bones about admitting that he
does not know all there Is to
know about the merchant ma
rine question and the problem now
confronting the government IN the
DISPOSAL of the white elephant on its
hands-the merchant fleet. The Presi-
dent feels that If the genius exists
who can figure out solution at one
glance, he would like to meet MIN at
once. Meantime. however. the Presl-
dent intends to study the SITUATION
and has called for an extensive re-
port which he expects to have at hand
this week, and which he will study
before communicating his views and
opinions to Congress.
The merchant marine question has
been a source of contention in Con-
gress, in the press and on the hust-
ings throughout recurring years.
sometimes more insistent than others,
and neer permanent settlement
has been found yet. The govern
ment has tried many experiments.
granting mail subsidies. applying
preferential tariff. and in the late
war applying the principle of gov
ernment ownership and operation
outright.
There is opposition to subsidy. there
is dead-set determination. it is be-
lieved, on the part of majority In
Congress not to have government
ownership and operation. and in the
meantime the industry says.
* < & X
Cable dispatches report Germany as
almost frantically busy building
merchant fleet. to be in readiness for
world trade when the worlds busl-
ness gets well again. German wages
and shipping regulations will place
United States vessels at a disadvan-
tage in rivalry for business
Unless the genius. whose wisdom
the President would invoke hurries up
with a plan to help the merchant
marine of this country. it is a goner,
is the belief expressed by wise men
in Congress.
x i +
President Harding sees in the will
ingness of Chile and Peru to get to-
sether and discuss their differences
another proof Of the growing popu-
larity of the conference idea" for
world usage. The arms, conference
proposes to call lanptheEmseting some
time in the not distant. future for
consideration of the laws Of war,
which may broaden it's 'agenda to
make it another world conference.
In contrast to these developments
Is the announcement from Paris that
France and Great Britain will not sit
down at the council board to discuss
the proposed defensive pact. but will
revert to the old form Of diplomacy,
negotiations through ambassadors.
The old world will be old world and
comes reluctantly to changes.
Vindication of the wisdom of Presi-
dent Harding in choosing two sena-
tors for the American delegation to
the arms conference was shown last
Friday in the Senate. A resolution Of
fered by Senator Walsh of Montana
called on the President to communi-
cate to the Senate what steps had
been taken to carry out certain ex-
pressed policies on the Shantung Ques
ton.
Thereupon. two members of the con-
ference, Senator's Lodge and Under
wood. arose in their seats. and told
the Senate exactly the state of affairs
as to Shantung.
Il wish to say" said Senator Under
wood, that under the administration
of Mr.. Wilson and under the admin
istration of President Harding our
country has occupied a. position in
reference to this matter that cannot
be controverted. We have contended
from the beginning that this terri
tory of a right was the territory Of
China, and have offered our good Of
fees on all occasions to try to secure
the return Of that territory to China.
THE attitude Of the American dele
cation at the conference now being
held in Washington has been-exactly
in accord with. the representations
made by the government Of President
Wilson and the government OF Presi-
dent Harding. The question has not
been directly before the conference,
and manifestly it cannot come before
the conference until 1t is settled be-
tween the governments Of China and
Japan. because seven Of the powers
sitting in the conference are sigma
tory to the treaty of Versailles, and,
Of course, cannot deny the conclu-
sions reached In that treaty with ref
erence to this territory until an
agreement Is reached between China
and Japan. Therefore, seven of the
powers are unable to discuss the
question as between Japan and China
because they have already committed
themselves by treaty"
y i X
Senator Lodge, the republican
leader Of the Senate, indorsed the
democratic leaders statement, adding
that the only method of. bringing
about settlement Of the Shantung
question is that adopted. and he had
strong hopes that this question,
which has been long discussed be-
tween China and Japan, would be
settled in . way satisfactory to the
people Of the United States.
Senator Underwood. made the addi-
tional observation that amy delega-
tion or governmental instrumentality
which tried right now to throw this
10 VHlA M