The New York herald., 1922-01-18
HUGHES'S OPEN DOOR
SAFEGUARDS CHINA
Continued from First Page.

CO0tlnue0 from F1rSC rage.
of establishing a public forum before
which the alleged violations of the agree
ment can be heard. 1t will bring the
| position of the nations in China before
the bar of the public opinion of the
world. The report of this commission
will not be binding except so far as 1t
rivets public attention upon what has
happened. 1t aims to turn the spotlight
on what may happen In China in the
future.
While the American and British dele
cations favor the Hughes definition OF
the "open door," the Italian and French
delegations registered a disposition to
look into certain features of it before
| acceptance. The Japanese accepted the
spirit of the resolution in principle but
asked further time to examine it's text
and so the question stands, to be taken
up at later time.
While the Hughes resolution, II
adopted. will denature the Sino-Japanese
agreement. 1t is acknowledged it will
not wholly deal with 1t and the Chinese
continue to press their demand for it's
consideration by the conference.
Changing Attitude Seen.
Evidence OF changing attitude to-
ward this demand was indicated to-
day by British spokesman who ex-
planned that the Washington confer
ence. 'as SUCH" cannot discuss modi-
fication of treaties. "as such.'' when
those treaties apply only to two Pow
ers. That is the reason why the Shan
tung discussion has been outside the
conference. "as such,' though forming
part actually of the work of the con-
ference "as such.'
He said further that Secretary Hughes
and Arthur ]. Balfour in their Informal
efforts to facilitate an agreement be-
tween japan and China on the Shantung
question had not been sought out and
had not acted as the heads of their re-
spective delegations. but merely as Mr..
Hughes and Mr. Balfour.
This spokesman asserted that he did
not believe the so-called 'twenty-one
demands could be dealt with ''as such"
by the conference. but that did not
mean that the substance would not be
dealt with because other things analo-
gous in substance to the so-called
"twenty-one demands" were being dealt
with by the conference and that the
take precedence over other tr' aties, Just
as the agreement on the Chinese tariff
by the conference took precedence over
tumcrous treaties with China which
dcJ' with the Chinese tariff. He
added:
THE Hughes resolution does deal
very effectively with a part of the sub
stance Of what is loosely and very in
correctly talked about as the twenty
one demands"
Such questions as the introduction OF
schools. hospitals and missionaries into
China. which formed n part of the So
called "twenty-one demands" it was
pointed out. the resolution would not
deal with, and no one had raised any
question on that score.
Involves National Pledges.
The Powers In adopting the Hughes
resolution, II was indicated. will pledge
themselves not to seek or to support
their nationals In seeking exclusive
rights In any region Of China. II was
indicated that il the resolution Is
adopted In its present form only Great
Britain and America having so far ac-
cepted It In substance as well as In
principle. 1t will have certain retro
active effect.
IL was the speakers opinion that
nothing In the agreement II the resolu-
tion Is adopted will prevent the con-
sortium composed of American, British.
French and Japanese bankers with the
diplomatic support OF thei- governments
from functioning, It not constituting a
monopoly In the opinions OF the govern
monts, as China Is permitted to obtain
loans elsewhere IL she can.
France opposed an important section
OF the American proposals for the "open
door" in China, but NJ. Sarraut said
this evening that he did not mean seri-
ously to object TO the suggestions
brought forward by Mr.. Hughes.
''On the contrary" W.. Sarraut de-
clared to THE NEW YORK HERALD,
France is entirely In accord with the
principle OF the open door as showed
in my acceptance OF the first three
paragraphs OF che American resolutions
France not only agrees with the policy
of the open door but accepts also the
proposed board of reference 20 which
Chinese concessions are 20 he submitted.
My remarks at the meeting to-day were
merely to- Ask whether tho Jurisdiction
of the proposed Chinese board OF ref
crencc might be made 20 cover past as
we'll as future concessions and to point
out the tremendous complications that
this may give rise TO.
II spoke purely from che point OF
jurist In order 10 clarity tho situation
and not with the thought of placing
France In a position Of opposition. II
seems to me we ere at an International
conference where every thing should be
discussed frankly and where it Is the
duty of each delegate to contribute what
he can to the clarity OF the general dis
cussion."
7Far and away the finest screen drama