The Washington times., 1922-01-18
HUGHES move
To FREE CHINA
GAINS SUPPORT
British Official Believes Open
Door Resolution Will Be APP
proved by Farley.
BY GEORGE r. HOLMES.
International News Service.

by GEOfGE N. hOlIMco,
International News Service.
Despite the fact that the French
have demurred and the Japanese
have pleaded that they must consult
Tokyo again, confidence was ex-
pressed in American and British off
cial quarters today that the confer
ence will approve the Hughes resolu-
ton designed to keep the Chinese
open door really open.
Japanese reference to Tokyo would
seem to preclude speedy acceptance
OF the open door resolution, but a
high British official nevertheless pre-
|dicted that the Hughes proposal would
receive the endorsement OF all the
powers within "a very short time.
The resolution. briefly, restates the
open-door policy laid down by John
Hay more than twenty years ago. and
provides an international board OF
appeal, to which recourse can be
taken by the principal powers when
they feel their economic and COM
mercial rights are being infringed
upon by other powers In China.
In many quarters the Hughes pro-
posal IL regarded as a shrewd diplo-
matic maneuver to insure the main
same time to provide q means for
considering the twenty-one demands
without actually taking up the twenty
one demands en- bloc, as insisted upon
by the Chinese.
The language of the resolution In
sures its retroactivity, the powers
agreeing that ANY provisions or an
existing concession which appear In
consistent with those Of another con-
cession may be submitted by the par.
ties concerned to the board OF refer
ence."
Inasmuch a. the twenty-one de-
mands forced China to grant japan
a great number of concessions in
Manchuria and Mongolia now exist
ing, the Chinese saw in the proposal
today q convenient method Of appeal
their grievances to an international
board whenever they wish.
In many quarters, the Hughes pro-
posal was looked upon as mastery
diplomatic vancouver. designed to
relieve the embarrassment occasioned
by Chinese insistence that the TWEEN.
| ty-one dcmands be considered. and at
| the same time to insure the means
of considering the twenty-one de-
mands without actually appearing to
do 30.
The resolution provides that past
questions may be taken up, and this
IL the avenue through which China
may approach the powers on the
Of the resolution states that the
powers agree that any provisions
OF an existing concession may be
submitted by the parties concerned to
the board Of reference"
FL Points Forced On China.
The twenty-one demands which
were forced on China in 1915 at
the point Of an ultimatum are now
existent in the shape Of concessions
wrung by the japanese in Man
churia and Mongolia. Thus a con-
venient method is afforded the Chi
nese to appeal against the continu.
alton Of these existing concessions"
whenever they may 80 desire.
While heartily approving the prin-
ciple of the resolution. the Chinese.
nevertheless. are proceeding eau
tiously. In some Chinese quarters
| the fear was expressed today that the
| Hughes resolution was merely a con-
| venient way to relieve the Washing
! ton conference of considering the
twenty-one demands and placing re-
sponsibility on some future board Of
| reference, which would have no en-
| forcement powers.
1t was also pointed out in Chinese
| quarters that the hoard Of reference
could do nothing except by the unani-
| nous consent Of all the powers con-
| cerned, and thus japan could block
| action on anything at any time by
merely refusing assent. The Chinese
attitude could be summed up: hope
full but wary.
The japanese were seriously per-
| turbed today over the turn Of events
| Their experts worked far into the
| night considering the proposal and
then cabled its text to Tokyo.
When the powers met again this
morning in the Pan-American build.
ing the resolution had the unquali-
| fled approval of the American, Brit
| ish, italian and Chinese delegations.
France and Japan alone had not
| given their assent, but every con-
| fidence was expressed that this as
| sent would not long be delayed.
RAIL RESOLVES FRAMED.
Acceptance by the powers Of the
| open-door resolution will be followed,
IL was forecast in British official
| quarters today, by the introduction
Of a set of resolutions covering Chi
| nese railroads.
Such a series of declarations al
| ready has been tentatively drafted
by Secretary Hughes, It was indi-
Gated, and aims at greater unifica-
ton of the roads, with a maximum
| Of Chinese control.
| The Chinese Eastern railway is to
| be included.