Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-01-28
SENATE MAY
APPROVE PACTS
VERY SOON
President Harding Looks for
No Long Delay in
Ratification
AGREEMENT NEAR
Instructions to Chinese Deleg Ex-
pected to be Received Not Later
Than Monday.

Washington, Jan. 2S.-In the opin-
ion of President Harding there will
be no long delay in action by the Sen
ate on the treaties that will grow out
of the armament conference. He
made this plain to visitors yesterday
following the cabinet meeting at
which Secretary Hughes made
lengthy explanation of the confer
ence work.
The Secretary is understood to have
told the President and his associates
in the Cabinet, that the completion
of the conference labors is in sight.
Agreement on all of the knotty prob
lens was said to be imminent. The
present delay was technical, due to
the necessity of cerrain delegations
receiving further instructions from
their home governments.
In conference circles last night the
opinion was expressed that definite
decision on the Shantung Railway will
be arrived at when the japanese and
Chinese delegations resume their
direct negotiations on Monday. At his
conference Wednesday with Minister
Sze the President had expressed the
hope that seemingly technical matters
would not be permitted, to interfere
with decision that was so necessary
to the peace of the world. That OF
course was as far as the President
could go in matter IN which national
sovereignty was involved and in which
this country had no direct part. The
Chinese delegation has asked Pekin
for certain specific additional instruc-
tions and they should be available
before Monday.
1t is understood that China only
awaits instructions from Pekln on
two specific points. The general
terms for the settlement Of the rail
road are understood to be complete.
China gets the title to the railroad
the settlement to the based upon 10
year deferred payment plan with D.
year option thereafter.
The plan for control which prac-
tically has been agreed on is that the
Chinese shall have managing dl-
rector under whom there shall be
HhineSe traffic manager. The Jap
anese, however. are to be allowed to
name an associate traffic manager in
order that their rights also may be
'afeguarded.
1t is understood that the various
Chinese student bodies in the United
States have been asked TO agree to the
plan and that they will endorse it and
so report to their representatives in
China before any official announce
ment is made here This would have
The effect of preventing any serious
criticism of the Chinese delegation
here because it accepted the COM
Promise plan Of fifteen years with a
five-year option instead of the original
proposal for full payment to be made
n from nine months to three years.
Japan will have management and, of
curse, will retain mortgage on the
road until the final payment is made.
There has been no change in the
olans of the President to send the
'nmplctcd work of the conference to
the Senate as soon as all Of the
treaties have been signed. The PreSi-
1cnt. administration circles said last
night, does not believe that the pro-
rram when completed will inspire any
'onG-drawn-out debate either in the
Foreign Relations Committee or on
The floor Of the Senate.
Meanwhile the delegates to the.
present conference have been anx-
;ous to learn whether the. United
States will officially participate in the
proposed Genoa economic gathering.
The matter still continues unsettled.
It has been the subject of discussion
between the President. and his advis-
crs, but no definite decision has been
reached.