Evening star., 1922-01-20
REPORTS SHANTUNG
DISPUTE NEAR END
Senator Underwood Asserts
China and Japan Must Set
tie Issue Alone.
By the Associated Press.

The Shantung question must and
probably will be settled between
China and Japan and cannot be taken
up by the arms conference. Senator
Underwood of Alabama, one of the
American delegates. declared in the
Senate today during a discussion of
the controversy
The conference, Senator Underwood
said, was unable to take up the Shan
tung question because seven of the
conference powers were committed by
the treaty of Versailles to support
Japan's position. The senator's state
ment was made in connection with
Introduction by Senator Walsh, dem
ocrat, Montana, of a resolution call
ing on the President for information
regarding the Shantung question. The
resolution went over.
Senator Lodge Agrees.
Senator Lodge Of Massachusetts,
another American delegate. indorsed
Senator Uunderwoods statement.
Senator Underwood went on to say
that in the negotiations between
China and Japan an agreement ap-
peared near. -
"A settlement is now approaching
very close to the end and from infor-
nation which l have" said Senator
Underwood. 81 am hopeful that at
very early date satisfactory settlement
Senators Underwood and Lodge ac-
knowledged that the Shantung
question had delayed the entire con-
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The Walsh Resolution.
The Walsh resolution would request
the President to advise the Senate, If
not Incompatible with public inter-
est. what steps have been taken at
the arms conference on the Shantung
question. Included in the Resolution
was a string Of whereas" preambles
reciting the Japanese acquisition OF
Shantung and the steps taken 10
secure 1t.
Senator Lodge expressed the hope
that the resolution would not be dis
cussed at length until the arms confer
ence adjourned.
Urges Settlement Now.
Senator Walsh said he introduced his
resolution because it was reported that
the conference was about to break I'D,
without settlement of the Shantung
question. The Senate. he said, might
hesitate to accept the four-power Pacific
treaty without such a settlement, which
might be more difficult in the future
than now.
Senator Underwood said that to at
tempt to force a settlement would
throw monkeywrench in the
machinery of the conference and ne
insisted that the dispute must be
handled between Japan and China be-
fore it could come to the conference.
Regarding the commitments Of the
seven conference powers other than
the United States to support Japan
under the treaty of Versailles, Senator
johnson, republican, California, asked
Senator Lodge whether the American
delegates were taking the seven
powers position for granted. In reply
Senator Lodge said it was assumed
that they would live up to their treaty
obligations.
Viewed as Chinese Territory.
Under the administration of Mr..
Wilson and later that of Mr.. Hard
ing" said Senator Underwood. "our
country has occupied the position
that cannot be controverted We
have contended from the beginning
this territory is territory of China
and we have offered our good offices
on all occasions to try to secure the
return of the territory to China. The
attitude of the American delegation
has been exactly the same.