Evening star., 1922-01-19
RETTER UNDERSTANDING
AIMED AT.BY DELEGATES
Principle Inuolued Not Declared Men, But
Regarded as Having Undergone Changes .
Since Its Application in 1898.
The official statement in regard to

Tho SWe0tleIn meoIIu8 VI tuo SoAAA
mittee on Pacific and far eastern
questions was held this morning,
January IS, at II o'clock. in the Fan
American building.
The chairman (Mr. Hughes), sug-
rested that the committee continue
the discussion of the proposed resolu-
ton in regard to the open door IN
China
Baron Shidehara said that. with
reference to section III OF the oratt
resolution, it appeared that the con-
stitution Of the board of reference
was to be framed by the special con-
ference on Chinese customs duties.
He knew that 1t was premature az
this moment to discuss details OF
such organization, but he would IKE
to form a general idea Of what mat
board of reference would be. Juds-
ing by the nature OF the questions ~
be dealt with. Baron Shidehara pre-
sumed that each OF the nine govern
ments would have to appoint, as mem
bers of the board. some OF tnelr
ablest and broadest minded jurists.
upon whose Judgment their own ana
the other interested governments
could rely. AS the board OF re1er-
ture. these jurists would either nave
to stay in China indefinitely or they
would have to be sent to China each
tlme questions within the competence
Of the board came up for considera-
tion and examination Apart IRON
the question OF expense to the nine
governments for the maintenance OF
the board, 1t had occurred to Baron
Shidehara that 1t might be difhcult.
from a practical standpoint, for these
governments to spare able' ana hrst-
rate jurists who would accept the
post in question under these condi-
tons II jurists of such qualification
could not be spared. the consequence
would only be disappointing. he
thought perhaps this practical slde
Of the question had already been con-
sidered by the chairman and ne
would be happy il the chairman
would inform the committee OF his
views in regard to 1t.
Jurists Considered.
Sir Auckland Geddes said: "Mr.
Chairman. this question of the board
of reference raised by Baron Shide-
hara is one which we had thought
over. before / ventured to suggest.
two days ago, that some form OF ma
chinery be established. The idea that
was something Of this sort: That the
actual board of reference sshould be
composed of jurists, but that it would
not be necessary for all the powers
representatives to attend all the meet
ings Of the board. We conceived of
this machinery somewhat In this way:
that every power should nominate to
q panel, jurists Of eminence and dis
tinction, and that from that panel
there should be drawn two. three.
four, whatever number was required,
to form the board which is actually
tot I,ot
brought before 1t. For example, 1t
occurred to us that it might be pos
sible for justices at Shanghai or
Hongkong to be on the panel Of the
board OF reference as the British rep
resentatives. If an occasion in which
in which under the adopted scheme a
British justice would git upon the
board OF reference, one of these dis
tinguished jurists would be called to
take his turn on the board. 1 think
that possibly a scheme worked out
sponsible for its preparation might
follow some such lines as these.
There would be this panel of jurists
and 1t might be arranged that any
inquiry should be dealt with by a
small board-say. with q representa-
cerned-with perhaps a neutral chair
man selected from the panel. 1t seems
to me that in some such way, with
out great expense. without keeping
eminent and distinguished jurists In
China for long periods, during which
little to do, we would be able to get
some such machinery set up in
cheap. simple and, effective way.
These are ideas that had passed
through my mind before ! made pub
lie the suggestion that there might
In
not know whether my ideas agree
with those of any Of the other dele
gates at this conference. but as a
preliminary indication Of one way
be created. ! am sure there are nu-
merous equally good, If not better,
plans possible. merely wish to
make It plain that there is no in
Superable difficulty attaching t6 the
proposal which you have brought be-
"Before I sit down there is one other
thing in this resolution that 1 think
It might be we'll to say few words
about. Already the question has
luton. if it be adopted and become
operative, would exclude from all ac-
tion such body as consortium. and
I would like to have recorded upon
the minutes these words:
Consortium Not Disturbed.
"Of course, 1t is clearly understood
that there is nothing in this resolu-
ton which affects, one way or the
other, the existing International con-
tary cooperation among private
financial or industrial groups in diff
ferent countries. which may join to-
gether in a manner, not involving
monopoly or infringement of the
principles recognized by the confer
ence in order to furnish China with
some essential service most efficiently
and economically to be provided by
united effort"
Baron Shidehara said that. 50 far
there seemed to be, as Sir Auckland
9eddes had just explained. no practi-
cal difficulty to carry out the plan
for the constitution Of the board of
thought that there might be difi-
culties as concerned some of the other
interested powers. 1t was not his
intention to raise any objections TO
the organization of the board; he
simply desired to point out the diff
The chairman said that 1t was pro-
yided in article Ill Of the proposed
resolution that the detailed scheme
for the constitution OF the board
should be framed by the special con-
ference to which article Of the cove
nant ON Chinese customs duties re-
He assumed that that special con-
ference would give the closest con-
alteration to the questions which
had been raised by Baron Shidehara,
and other questions that would re-
late to the constitution OF the board.
He felt. however. that such matters
would not present insuperable diff
culties 1t would require close atten-
tion to avoid unnecessary inconven.
fence, but, as Sir Auckland Geddes had
pointed out. there could be immedi.
ately suggested some. measures Of .