Evening star., 1922-02-04
TREATY TO STABILIZE
FAR EAST CONDITIONS
Arms Delegates Agree to Pact Intended to
Promote China s Interests on Basis of
Equality and Opportunity: ~ J: ]

issued on the thirty-frst meeting Of
the committee on Pacific and far east
|ern questions yesterday afternoon at
i3 O'Clock in the Fan-American build
ing. with Mr.. Hughes in the chair:
The committee discussed and adopt
ed the text Of the treaty designed to
stabilize conditions in the far east, to
safeguard the rights and interests of
China, and to promote intercourse be-
tween China and the other powers
upon the basis Of equality OF oppor-
tunity; the text of the resolution es-
tablishing board of reference. to
which questions arising In connection
with the aforesaid treaty shall be
referred, and the text Of the Chinese
customs treaty.
Reply to Baron shidehara.
In reply to the statement made yes
tcrday by Baron Shidehara concerning
the Sino-Japanese treaties and ex-
change Of notes Of May rs. 1915. DR..
Wang said:
"The Chinese delegation has taken
note Of the statement OF Baron
Shidehara made at yesterdays ses-
sion of the committee with reference
to the Sino-Japanese treaties and
, notes Of May rs, 1915;
with satisfaction that Japan is now
ready to throw open to the joint
activity Of the banking interests of
other powers the right OF option
granted exclusively in favor OF Jap
anese capital with regard. first. to
| in South Mapchuria and eastern inner
Mongolia. and second, to loans Sc
cured on taxes in that region; and
that Japan has no intention of in
sisting upon a preferential right
concerning the engagement by China
Of Japanese advisers or instructors on
political. financial. military or police
| matters In South Manchuria; also that
Japan now withdraws the reservation
which she made to the erect that
group V of her original demands
upon China should be postponed for
future negotiation.
japanese Position Regretted.
1.-THE Chinese delegation greatly re-
Erets that the government OF Japan
should not have been led to renounce
the other claims predicated upon the
treaties and notes of 1915.
THE Japanese delegation expressed
the opinion that abrogation Of these
agreements would constitute AN ex-
ceedingly dangerous precedent, with
far-reaching consequences upon the
stability of the existing international
relations in ASIA in Europe and
everywhere
The Chinese delegation has the
honor to say that still more dan
gerous precedent will be established,
with consequences upon the stability
Of International relations which can
not be estimated, if. without rebuke
or protest from other powers. one
nation can obtain from a friendly. but
| in a military sense. weaker neighbor.
and under circumstances such as at
tended the negotiation and signing of
| the treaties of 1915. valuable conces-
sions which were not in satisfaction
OF pending controversies and for
which no Quid pro quo was offered.
indeed. unique in the annals of inter-
national relations. History records
scarcely another instance in which
demands of such serious character.
as those which Japan presented to
China in 1915 have. without even pre-
tense Of provocation, been suddenly
presented by one nation to another
nation with which 1t was at the time
in friendly relations.
mo apprehension need be entertain
cd that the abrogation of the agree
ments of 1915 will serve as prece-
agreements, since it is confidently
hoped that the future will furnish no
stich similar occurrence.
/ Conditions Declared Exceptional.
so exceptional were the conditions
under which the agreements of 1915
were negotiated. the government of
the United States felt justified in re-
ferring to them in the identic note
Of May 13. 1918, which It sent to the
Chinese and japanese governments.
That note began with the statement
that in view Of the circumstances
which have taken place and which
are now pending between the gov
ernment of China and the govern
ment of Japan and of the agreements
which have been reached as the re-
suit thereof. the government of the
United States has the honor to notify
the government Of the Chinese re-
public (Japan) that it cannot recog-
nize any agreement or undertaking
which has been entered into between
the governments Of China and Japan
impairing the treaty rights OF the
United States and its citizens in
China, the political or territorial in
tegrity Of the republic Of China. or
the international policy relative to
China commonly known as the open
door policy
Conscious of her obligations to
the other powers, the Chinese gov
ernment, Immediately after signing
statement protesting against the
agreements which she had been COM
PEELED to sign, and disclaiming re-
sponsibility for consequent VIOLA
| tions Of treaty rights Of the other
powers. In the statement thus issued
the Chinese government declared
that, although they were constrained
| the (Japanese) ultimatum,' they
nevertheless 'disclaim any desire to
associate themselves with any re-
vision which may be thus effected OF
the various conventions and agree
ments concluded between the other
powers in respect Of the maintenance
of China's territorial independence
status quo, and the principle Of equal
opportunity for the commerce and
industry of all nations in China
Provisions Held Unjust.
because of the essential Injustice
Of these provisions. the Chinese dele
cation, acting in behalf of the Chinese
government and Of the Chinese peo-
pie, has felt itself in duty bound to
present to this conference, represent
ing the powers with substantial in
terestS in the far east, the question as
to the equity and justice Of these
agreements and therefore as to their
fundamental validity.
"If Japan is disposed to rely SOLELY
upon a claim as TO the technical OF
juristic validity of the agreements OF
1915, as having been actually signed
! in due form by the two governments
it may be said that so far as this
conference Is concerned. the conten-
tion is largely irrelevant, for this
gathering of the representatives OF
the nine powers has not had for its
purpose the maintenance of the legal
status quo. Upon the contrary, the
purpose has been, if possible. to bring
about such changes In existing con-
ditions upon the Pacific and in the
60 CT a RI
mote that enduring friendship among
[ Tho natinns of which the Presidant Of