Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-01-03
No Understanding Has Been
Entered Into for Perpet-
Uating Control of the Nip
pOneSe In Siberia.
NAVAL EXPERTS STUDY
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Subcommittee Appointed to
Formulate a New Tariff
Program for China Is
Expected to Meet Today,

Washington, Jan, 2, (By the As
sociated Press. )-While practically
all machinery Of the arms confer
ence halted for new years the un-
official delegation of the Far East
ern republic took advantage of the
lull to press charges of a secret
French-Japanese understanding for
perpetuation of Japanese control
in Siberia.
The AR Eastern delegates de-
clared proof of their charges al
ready denied by the French and
japanese delegates, could be OBJ
tanned by examination of original
documents in the archives of the
Far Eastern government at Chita.
They suggested that such an inquiry
be made by American consular Of
ficials, so that the results might be
known to the conference when it
considers Siberian problems.
To emphasize the French denial
made yesterday. Albert Sarraut,
head Of the French delegation. no
titled Secretary Hughes. as chair
man of the conference, that the
charges were wholly without foun-
dation in fact, The French govern
ment, he said. in q written COM
municatiOn, had entered into no
commitments regarding Siberia eX-
cept those of which the United
States was aware.
In view of the French and Jap
anese reputation OF the charges.
and the position of the Far Eastern
delegates as outsiders" sent to the
conference by an unrecOgniZed gov
ernment, the inclination in many
conference circles was not to take
the development very seriously. At
the same time, the accusations at
tracted widespread attention.
Naval experts alone worked to-
day, studying technical details re-
naming to be settled in connection
with the naval agreement. It was
sa1 their deliberations were at
such a stage tonight tfat all the
loose ends of the settlement prob
ably could be cleared away within
a few days. II questions Of policy
raised by the submarine regulation
proposals can be settled in time.
the conference leaders believe that
the fiva-power naval treaty can be
| put into definite form this week
Tomorrow naval experts will con-
tinue their work. and the sub-com-
mittee appointed to formulate u
new tariff program for China also
will meet Other naval and Far
Eastern questions will occupy at
tention of the other delegates in in
! formal conferences.
The question of proposed re-
lstrictions on submarine warfare IS
| Regarded by all delegations as the
most troublesome of the unsolved
naval problems. The first of the
! Root submarine resolutions, reaf-
! firming adherence to the existing
principles OF international law, has
jbeen accepted by the five powers;
lbut the second and third, propos-
ling still more stringent restrictions
on the use of underwater craft, are
| leading to much controversy.
Under the second resolution, the
| five powers would Join in an agree
ment that in any future war among
Them submarines would not be used
las commerce destroyers. The Unit
| ed States and Great Britain alone
have acceded to this proposition,
Japan and Italy have adopted
tnon-committal attitude toward 1t.
Ii and the French have shown some
inclination at least to propose modi-
fications.
The delay is taken as strengthen
ing the possibility that France may
have qualifications or further
changes to suggest before she gives
assent. Among some of the French
there Is a feeling that merchant
ships should not be permitted to
arm If they are to be free from sub
marine attack. In other quarters
lit is proposed that some restrictions
should also be placed upon the dis
guisng of war vessels to make
them look like innocent merchant
linen.
The third Root resolution. also
pigeonholed while the foreign dele
cations await instructions, would
make supjecs 10 trial as a pirate
any submarine commander who
violates international law. Accept.
ance of this proposal is regarded
as hinging in some degree on the
final action taken regarding the
second resolution, but it is hoped
that both may be disposed OF tills
week so that the substance of the
decisions reached can be embodied
lin the naval treaty.
With the naval settlement in
final form, there seems to be gem
eral confidence that the far east
ern slate can be wiped clean in
time to permit adjournment of the
conference about the middle of
January. The Shantung deadlock
remains the greatest barrier to a
liar eastern accord, but the Japan
ese tonight expressed renewed hope
of a settlement and the Chinese
Iheld to their refusal to regard the
present impasse as final failure
to agree.