Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-01-05
|[ND or SHANTUNG
| DISPUTE AT HAND
Chinese Expected to Obey Pekin
Instructions and Accept
Japanese Proposals
DISCUSSIONS ARE RESUMED
nv CLINTON w. GILBERT

s,s6 correspondent Evening Public Ledger
copyrioht, 1884, bv Public Ledger Company
Washington, Jan. 5.---With the re-
,umpton of the discussions today it is
crpected that the Shantung issue will
bo settled. the Chinese accepting the
Jsponese proposal. The Chinese dele
cation is understood to have received
ia instructions from Pekin.
n is denied here that the japanese
have negotiated directly at Pekih and
Tho denial is generally accepted. It is
,ot believed that the japanese would
do ANYTHING so likely to injure their
standing with the American public as
n deal directly with the Pekin Govern
ment ON a subject which was before the
Conference here.
Some other method has doubtless been
used of making the new authorities real
,,e that it would be impractical to hold
out for further concessions than Japan
has offered in the negotiations here with
the Chinese delegation.
Much speculation is going on here as
"a vbat will be the action Of the Chinese
Je,epatcs. Will they consent to be
oyerrued from Pekin? VIII they sign
an agreement which leaves Japan In
virtual control OF the railroad in Shan
ung;
E,pect Chinese Delegates to Yield
The best informed here feel that the
delegation has no choice but to accept
its orders from Pekin. The new Gov
crnment there is evidently stronger and
more determined than the one which has
lust been overthrown. All three dele
Gates are Chinese officials. two of them
5inlomats falt and one Chief Justice. If
tbe new Government Is to stand they
will have to give Up their othclal careers
10 disobey its orders.
Much popular sentiment exists in
China. especially among the students
and the western educated Chinese,
against accepting such settlement as
II now proposed. But unless this senti-
ment Is strong enough to compass the
overthrow of the present Government
the Chinese delegates will have no poll
tica future should they align them
selves with 1t.
IL the Chinese delegates accept the
Shantung settlement it is taken for
granted that they will also sign the
nine Power treaty and one other
anxiety OF the conferees of the great
Powers will be removed. for rejection
by China would have bad moral effect
upon the results Of the Far Eastern
Conference while the disturbances that
might follow would have practical con-
sequences which every Power interested
economically in China desires to avoid.
The new Government in China seems
| to be kind Of god from the machine"
come to the relief of those who were
struggling with the apparently insolu-
bic difficulties Of that country. Where
the old Government was so weak that
the delegation had a quasi independence
Of II, the Government is evidently firm
snd determined. The delegation here
listened as much to the young Chinese
OF home and to the Chinese societies in
this country as they did to Pekin. Now
apparently they have to make their
choice. and it is expected that they will
be responsive to Pekin.
Old Pekin Policy Fails
Pckin is apparently realistic. 1t sees
that the United States and Japan in
the four Power pact and in the naval
agreement here composed their historic
differences, and that old diplomatic game
Of playing the United States against
Japan in the Far East is over. In this
Conference that old policy of China's
has for the first time not worked.
The Chinese who make up the new
Pekin Government have observed that
II has not worked or have had their at
tention called directly to the fact, and
have changed their tactics, with what
fEill probably be large diplomatic con-
teQuenccs in the future, unless the radi-
cal movement succeeds once more in
bringing about change.
The new Government, by making a
compromise on Shantung and by ac-
cepting the results Of the Far Eastern
Conference, will probably bid for the
support Of the four great Powers. And
with that support 1t may feel strong
enough to establish order in China.
The Shantung settlement will be a
compromise, like all the other settle
ments which are coming out Of this
, Conference. 1t will cause much debate
In this country, especially in the SEN
ate.
Those feeling entitled to expect ideal
results from international diplomacy
will attack It. But if China gets on
her feet and grows strong the ar
rangements for japanese financing OF
the railroad in Shantung will not be
important. And If she does not, no
Amount of enlf Jopn;n. .o.oI,.Io,, L.