New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-01-21
Underwood Warns AnyAt.
tempt 10 Drag Negotia-
tions Into Conference
May Result Seriously
] Powers Barred
By League Treaty
Lodge Says Signatories
Cannot Interfere Now 81
Johnson Attacks Parlev

Jan 2O-In the most
important discussion vet held in, tho
Senate over matters pending before the
arms conference, Senators Lodge and
Underwood, two of the American dc]c-
gates. to-day set forth the conference
attitude toward the Shantung question
and the territorial and political integ-
f'ty OF China and the open door policy.
lhey made their statements because
of the Introduction by Senator Walsh
OF Montana. of a resolution asking the
President for information as tn what
slcps Fad been taken to give effect to
'h'a country's declaration and policies
egapd'ng the integrity of China.
senator Walsh took the view that
with the four powers signatorv To tho
1our-power treaty now in conference in
Washington it was an opportune time
10 settle the problems relative to the
far East. He indicated there was an
prehcnsion lest the present armament
conference break up without settl;ne
these questions, and he felt the confsr.
ence itself should take Zip such dues
tions.
Underwood Opposes Interference
Senator Underwood, explaining that
tne conference could not take IN tho
shantung question and like questions
Whlch are pending between China and
Japan without their consent. declared
any attempt at this time to throw them
INTO the conference and force "some
hr,0 L
. MONKEY wrench into the machinery.
with possibility of serious results. liz
| expressed hope and confidence that
| negotiations now in progress here be-
tween China and Japan would be sue
cessful. His utteranccs were plain
/ warning 70 the Senate not to interfere
at this time. Senator Lodge strongly
supported Mr.. Underwood's statement
of the case.
Senator's Underwood and Lodge
pointed out that seyen of the powers
treaty of Versailles, hence arc
precluded from doing otherwise than
accepting the conclusions of that
treaty with reference to Shantunr
until Japan and China have reached
All agreement.
1t is expected the Walsh resolution
VIII be debated again tomorrow. Re-
publican leaders,. will seek to refer it
TO the Foreign Relations COMMITTEE
and thus sIdetrack it, 1t is the feeling
of Senators that the real purpose and
object of the resolution was to bring
about discussion and to afford an op-
portunty for Senator Walsh to serve
notice, as he did in a guarded way,
that unless the Far Eastern problems
are adjusted there will be difficulty
in getting the Senate to accept the con-
ference agreements.
U. S. Recognizes China's Rights
~ wish to say" said Senator Under
wood in his statement, "that under
the Administration of Mr.. Wilson and
under the Administration OF President
Harding our country has occupied
position in reference to this matter
lShantung that cannot be contro-
verted. We have contended from the
beginning that this territory Of
right was the territory of China. and
occasions to try to secure the return
Of that territory to China.
"Thc attitude of the American dele
gates at the conference has been exact
ly in accord with the representations
made by the government of President
Wilson and the government of Presi-
dent Harding. The question has not
been directly before the conference,
and manifcstly it cannot come before
the conference until it is settled be
tween the governments of China and
Japan, because seven of the powers sit
ting in the conference are signatory to
the Treaty of Versailles. and, of course,
cannot deny the conclusions reached in
that treaty with reference to this ter
ritory until an agreement is reached
between China and Japan. Therefore,
seven of the powers are unable to dis
cuss the WESTON as between Japan
and China. because they already have
committed themselves by treaty.
Hopeful of Early Settlement
at cannot be taken up directly in
the conference, but for many weeks the
matter has been pending between the