Evening star., 1922-01-19
FAREAST SOLUTION
cQNsDEREDcLoSER
Adoption of Three Of Hughes
Proposals Long Step
Forward.

The adoption of the first three arti-
cles of the open-door resolution pre-
sentcd by Secretary Hughes to the far
east committee of the Washington
conference was declared today to be a
long step toward the solution Of the
far east problem.
For the american delegation 1t was
insisted that the elimination of article
4. regarded in some quarters as tne
most sweeping provision OF the reSo-
luton, because it specifically provides
for a review of existing concessions
in China, was not considered or great
Importance. 1t was said that the re-
manning provisions of the resolution
would permit the examination or eX-
listing concessions where both parties
agreed to it.
The open-door resolution as adopt
cd contains a mutual pledge not 10
seek spheres of influence or monopo-
lies in China in the future. ana au.
thorfzes creation of an internattonai
board of reference, with power to IN
vestigate and report on any case
which seems to involve violation OF
the rYinciple of equal economic ana
commercial opportunity.
Mny Bring Article " Up.
The opinion of Chinese delegates is
that there must be an examination or
existing concessions and commitments
in China if there is to be real opera i
ton of the open-door policy. The
Chinese delegation may bring up ar
ticle " again. either today or at
some future meeting of. the far east
committee, and seek to have 1t adopt
ed in some form. 1t was pointed out
last night by a member of the dele
cation that it could be taken up when
tho conference reaches that part OF
the agenda dealing with existing COM
mitments.
At Yesterdays committee meeting
both Albert Sarraut. for the FreAch,
and Baron Shidehara. for the Japa-
nese, asked further questions regard
ing the meaning of the Hughes open
door proposals. Baron Shidehara sug-
gesting that practical application of
the board of reference scheme might
be difficult in view of, the necessity OF
SO constituting the board that Its
membership would be agreeable to
every one. Sir Auckland Geddes, for
the British, replied with proposal
that the process might be simplified
by selecting panels from which mem
bers could be chosen by consultation
among the various foreign offices.
Baron Shidehara then touched on
the existing concessions provision.
embodied in articSa " of the America n
resolution. proposing an amendment
by which the jurisdiction of the
board would apply only to conceS-
Sions sought or granted in the fu
ture. While the discussion was pro-
cecding Sir Robert Borden of the
British delegation suggested tfat the
whole article be stricken out entire
~. and his proposal was accepted all
around the table. .
Makes Hay Plan specific.
Before the remaining three arti-
cles were adopted. Baron Shidehara
made a speech comparing the original
open-door declaration of John Hay
with the language Of the resolution
proposed by Secretary Hughes and
suggesting that through the inter-
vening years the scope of the policy
had been appreciably broadened. Mr..
Hughes replied that his proposal diff
fered from the Hay pronouncement,
in his opinion, only in that it was
more specific To support his view
the Secretary read the original open
door declaration, the diplomatic cor
respondence celebrating it. and later
exchanges on the subject by the
American and other governments.
Baron Shidehara also called atten-
tion that China would have a part to
play in the opening up of the Chinese
territory under the new open door
agreement, and invited the Chinese
delegation at some-futHre time to lay
before the .~commit&es the intentions
of its government fh that direction.
In the course of the open door dis
cussions Sir Auckland Geddes en-