The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-08
POISONOUS GAS IS
 DISCARDED BY THE
 ARMS CONFERENCE.
Farley Practically Completes Its Limitation PIan-DeIe- gates Look for PIenary
 Session Next Week
By Associated Press


 Washington, January 7.-The Washington conference about com pleted its armament limitation pro- gram today by voting poison gas into the discard.
 As in the case of the new rules to govern submarines, tho prohibition against use of gas in future wars was adopted by the five great powers as invitation to the rest of the world Co join In the agreement.
 That left on the armament waiting list of the conference only two top ics-limitation of aircraft and gen eral revision of the rules of warfare and both seemed likely tonight to be passed over without definite ae- tion.
 An air warfare subcommittee has reported after weeks of study that limitation of airplanes appears i'm practicable until a conference of wider scope has been convened, al- though it was suggested that some restrictions on use of lighter than air craft might be worth attempting.
 A future world wide conference for consideration of the rules of war also has been suggested, and sentiment among the delegates seemed to favor 1t. Italy. however. hopes to see the present negotiations develop some agreement against bombardment of unfortified cities.
 PIenary Session
 So far have the armament discuss sions proceeded that some delegations are looking forward to a plenary ses- sion of the conference by Wednesday or Thursday of next week to publish to the world the completed limitation treaty and to record the further steps that have been taken in regard to the far east.
 In the far eastern discussions to- days deliberation contributed no sur face indication of progress, despite an appeal by the Chinese to Secretary Hughes and Arthur J. Balfour to sug- gest way out of the Chinese Jap anese deadlock on shantunR The Chinese delegates saw the respective heads of the American and British delegations separately and opinion was divided afterward as to the pros poets.
 Facing g situation that both de- scribed as delicate, 1t was apparent Al. l. Ns1 could not even agree on a method by which mediation could be attempted. The Chinese wanted to avail them selves of the offer of "good offices" made by Messrs Balfour and Hughes. but the Japanese took the position that such a step would be valueless unless China was prepared to make concessions she hitherto has refused to consider.
 Method of Payment
 A solution hinges on the method of payment to be arranged for China's purchase of the Tsingtao-Tsinanfu railroad and both sides say they have gone as far as they can toward a compromise. In American quarters however, the opinion Is expressed that the difference Is so small as to make a final disagreement unthink- able.
 It IS cOnbluereu CeTlaln that MT. Balfour and Secretary Hughes, in their roles as mediators, will use every reasonable means to bring the two groups together, for there has been a tendency in many quarters to regard settlement of the long debated Shantung problem as an integral ele ment in the solution of the remaining questions of the far east. These ques- tions are to come in for intensive dis cussion during the coming week, and the delegates all appear to believe that the air would be cleared appre- ciably if Shantung were out of the way.
 Adjourn fin Two-Weeks
 The general belief is that with the armament negotiations ended, the far eastern side of the conference could be wound up in another week or 10 days. That would seem to forecast a final adjournment about two weeks hence, but not so soon as some of the delegates had expected. Prince To- kugava of the Japanese delegation carried out his original plans and left for Japan today, but it was indicated that MT. Balfour was considering
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