Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-01-21
RAILWAY PROPOSALS
ADOPTED BY FARLEY

Associated Press).-The Far East
ern committee of the Washington
conference today adopted two reso'
buttons dealing with Chinese rail-
ways and then began consideration
of the status Of existing commit
ments in China, the last item on
the Chinese section of the CONFER
ence agenda.
When the subject of existing COM
mitments was taken up it was sug-
gested that all nations represented
furnish the committee with a hst
of their treaties and agreements re-
lating to China and the proposal was
agreed to, tentatively. The lists fur
nished are to cover secret as we'll as
public understandings.
One of the railroad resolutions
adopted, presented by Sir Auckland
Geddes of the British delegation.
pledges the powers and emma
against unfair discrimination" in
railroad rates and facilities. The
other, by Secretary Hughes, ex-
presses hope in evntual unificatlon
of the Chinese roads under Chinese
control. Both wer adopted substan-
tally in the form presented yester-
day, although few minor changes
were made.
Although it was said that agree
nnent to furnish this information
was only tentatively in character,
most of the delegates indicated aft
erward that they expected the lists
to be in the hands of the secretary
general Of the conference before the
committee resumes it's sessions to-
morrow afternoon.
Railway Proposals
a+0,,
Secretary Hughes and Sir AucKlailu
Geddes in submitting them 10 lne
committee, neither the American
resolution, by which the powers
would record their hope Tor an even
tual unification OF transportation
lines in China under Chinese control,
nor the British proposal tp pleoge
the powers against discriminatory
practices on roads under their con-
troll, was discussed yesterday, ana IL
remained today for the other pow
crs to record their attitude OF ootn.
While in neither proposal was
there any exclusion OF either the
Shantung or Manchurian INES III
approaching the railroad problem
the committee agreed, at the sus-
gestion of Secretary Hughes, that
railway be referred to a special SUBJ
committee of far eastern experts for
separate consideration. It has been
indicated that retention Of the pres
ent control of this line, traversing
the border between Manchuria and
Siberia, by an inter-allied commits
sion would be recommended in view
of the present unsettled conditions
in Russia.
Although the Chinese delegates
~eserved the right to call up again
the provision of the American open
door proposal, which would have
authorized an inquiry into existing
concessions in China, it was the gen
eraI impression among the delegates
TODAY that this had been permanent
w sidetracked when it was stricken
o,,t of the resolution yesterday De-
fore adoption of its other provisions.
Despite the view Of many dele
gates that this feature constituted
the most sweeping provision OF the
American plan, it was represented
as the opinion of the American dele
CATION today that it's elimination did
not materially weaken the effect or
the resolution, as there would still
be opportunity under remaining pro-
visions for examination of existing
concessions where both parties
agreed to it.
The armament limitation phase OF
+ha conferences, while remaining con-
fined to informal discussions, came
RI the fore again today through sug-
pestion' of a new means OF solving
difficulties arising out or the
fortifications question and through
changes made in the five-poWer naval
treaty by the drafting committee
which is putting the pact into final
form.
Despite the renewed interest in
the armament limitation phase there
were no indications that a plenary
session of the conference was
planned this week to cosider that
subject. There was a feeling in
4 some quarters that a full open ses-
sion should be held as soon as pos
sible and with the idea of making
that possible through completion of
the naval treaty the new Pacific for
tifications suggestion has been put
? forward.
This suggestion still informal in
its nature, is that Article XIX COW
ering Notifications be withdrawn
from the naval convention and left
to be attached to the four-power or
Pacific treaty if the conference
should so elect
Those suggesting this plan take
the stand that Article XIX, being
limited in its operation to the Pacific
Islands, really has no place in the
general naval treaty, to which all
OF the naval powers are to subscribe
including some that are not at oil
interested in Pacific problems. The
article was originally inserted in the
naval treaty at the request Of the
Japanese delegation who made it a
condition to acceptance of the ratio.