The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-01-23
SIBERIAN PROBLEM
NEXT ON PROGRAM
Will Replace Chinese Questions
During Week as Topic
of Discussion.
tey The AssoeIated Pressl


WASHINGTON, Jan. 22.-The prob
lem of Siberia, the only topics on the
agenda OF the Washington conference
now remaining UNEMPLOYED, is to re-
place the Chinese question during the
coming week as the paramount con-
Germ of the arms delegates.
BY most of the delegations the ST.
berian situation is not expected to
lead to a long discussion, and it was
predicted generally tonight that by
the end OF the week the far eastern
discussion would find themselves
once more abreast of the almost con-
Guided negotiations.
The japanese, who expect Siberia
TO be considered at tomorrow's meet
ing OF the far eastern committee, re-
ceived today from Toxic an expression
Of policy by Foreign Minister Uchida
which they regarded as determining
definitely the attitude of their gov
eminent against withdrawal of Japa-
nese troops from Siberia until a sta
BILE administration has been estab-
lshed there.
This position the delegation is eX-
pected to lay before the committee
as soon as IT begins its Siberian dis
cussions,, bringing the negotiations at
once to a consideration of the central
issues involved in the problem. There
is no indication that any other power
intends to stubbornly dispute the Jap
nese stand or to bring on prolonged
debate over lesser questions.
In some quarters there is apparent
a belief that Japan should be invited
to get a definite date for withdrawal
of her militray forces, but tho Japa-
nese delegates said tonight they had
no present intention Of doing so. Their
troops, they declared, were in Siberia
solely to protect japanese interests
during the present unsettled condi-
tions, and therefore it would be wholly
impossible 20 fix a withdrawal date
until there are definite assurances of
an Improvement.
Although the far eastern committee
is about to shift it's attentions to ST.
IBERIA O few OF the Chinese questions
still remain to be disposed of, and will
receive consideration when the causes
which prompted their postponement
are removed. The Chinese request for
abrogation Of the "twenty-one de-
mands" treaties is among these, but is
not expected to. come up until the
Shantung negotiations are concluded.
other subjects include the Chinese
eastern railway and the Russo-Chi-
nese alliance OF 1896, both of which
are considered likely to dovetail into
the Siberian discussions as they pro-
coed,
Ln IN nh hAlinf
tibet the coming week not only viii
see the far eastern agenda virtually
exhausted, but also will witness defi-
mite steps in the separate negotiations
between me Japanese and Chinese
over Shantung. The two groups will
meet tomorrow for the thirty first
time, and two or three more meetings
are believed certain to reduce the
points of difference to a stage where
a compromise on the Tsingtao railroad
issue will bring the whole Shantung
controversy to an end
over Sunday conferences produced
no developments in the naval negoti-
atlons, but all the delegations held to
their predictions that the Pacific
Notifications settlement, the only
point remaining at issue, would be
worked out without serious trouble. 1t
seemed to be the prevailing opinion to-
night that plenary session OF the
conference would be held during the
week to present the naval treaty in its
final form.
In view Of the unexpected questions
that have developed in the past most
of the delegates are chary of making
further prophecies Of an adjourning
date for the conference. No one seems |
TO believe it likely, however, that me-