The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-01-07
Other Nations To Be Asked to
Follow Decision.
Aircraft Restrictions To Be Left
to Future Parleys.
FINISH FIVE NATIONS PACT
Conference Delegates Expect
Adjournment Next Week.
BalfOur and Hughes May
: Mediate in Far East.

Washington. Jan. 7.-Poison gas rs
an instrument of warfare was out
lawed today by Great Britain, Japan,
France. Italy and the United States.
who thru their representatives in the
Washington conference approved the
American proposal to prohibit the use
of that weapon.
The signatory powers not only
bound themselves to abolish the use
of gas but they also agreed ito invite
| all other civilized nations to adhere
thereto" to the end that the ban may
ultimately be incorporated into inter-
national law.
There was some discussion before
the resolution was passed. but in the
end it was adopted unanimously as
! proposed by Root yesterday without
modification or amendment.
See No Solution.
Later, 1t was learned that Secretary
| Hughes had agreed to see the Chinese
delegation informally at o'clock this
afternoon regarding the Shantung
deadlock.
Mr.. Balfour declared the Chinese
and Japanese were divided to such
a small extent that ait seems impos-
sible that an agreement cannot be
reached"
After the adoption of the anti-gas
| resolution the armament COMMITTEES
took up the report of its subcommit-
tee on aircraft limitation, but reached
no conclusion on that matter. The
aircraft discussion will be continued
| Monday.
On the Question of aircraft, the sub
committee reported that II was deemed
impossible to limit the size or use or
characteristics of aircraft, other than
! lighter than air machines, and that
the question of restricting aircraft in
war in its opinion should be left open
| for a future conference.
! Three distinct steps toward "human-
izing" warfare are being taken by the
powers here in the closing days OF the
! conferences:
l. Restrictions on submarine war;
fare.
2. Banning poison gas.
8. Restrictions upon the use of air
craft over cities and non-combatant
areas
The first and second were accom-
plished today and the third is expected
to follow shortly. Elihu Root and the
American delegation will go down in
history az fathering this trinity OF ''liu-
manizers." Elsewhere the conference
moved steadily ahead today toward
adjournment. The hope was expressed
in some quarters that the last of next
week will see the conference adjourn
ing sine die. Members of the British
delegation are booked to sail on jar
uary IA. one week from today, and
they see no reason for cancelling their
| accommodations.
| Finish Five Power Pact.
The naval and drafting experts are
| placing the finishing touches on the
i ifive-powered naval treaty. X prob
| ably will be presented to the full COM
rlittee on Monday. ratified, and then
| a plenary session arranged for an
nouncing 1t % the world early in the
new week.
This will leave Siberia the only item
on the agenda and that can be dis
posed of quickly, according to the con-
ference leaders. by the adoption of a
general resolution defining the aims
| of the powers concerned.
The status of the Shantung contro-
versy was left in some doubt today
as a result of breaking off the private
conversations here between the Chi
| nese and the Japanese. There were
increasing indications today that the
! Chinese delegation are not in accord
with the new cabinet in Peking. It is
| known that on Thursday, the Chinese
delegation received dispatches from
Peking to the effect that the new
cabinet had accepted the settlement
proposed by the Japanese-return of
| Shantung to China, with japanese
| financial and operative control Of the
Kio Chow Tsinan Flu railway.
This drew an energetic protest from
/ the delegates here who notified
Peking that such action nullified all
the efforts they had made here and
marred the prospects for the driving
Of a better bargain here in Washing
4 ton. The Chinese hurriedly got the
conversations under way again here.
somewhat against Japan's wishes.
! Now they have been broken off again.
Il and the Chinese intimate they are GO
/ ing to solicit the mediation of Sec
/ retary of State Hughes and A. J. Bal
four.
| While the situation stood today in
some confusion, the belief still pre-
vailed in responsible conference quar-
ters that the reported settlement be-
/ tween Peking and Toxic will ultimate
tly prevail
China Must Ask Mediation.
Arthur ]. BaIfour and Secretary
| Hughes. it was said today by British
spokesman, probably will await joint
request from the japanese and Chi
nese delegates to the arms conferences
TO mediate the Shantung dispute be-
fore stepping into the breach caused
yesterday when the conversations be-
tween the two groups came TO an end
after failing to agree on terms Of pay
ment for the Kiao Chow-Tsinan Flu
railway.
Messrs. Hughes and Balfour. the
spokesman said. however. likely would
agree to meet the Chinese delegation
in response to its request made late
! Yesterday They TINS xvoy,1d recefve