Evening star., 1922-01-27
CHINESE IN FINAL
EFFORT TO SETTLE
SHANTUNG DISPUTE
Appeal to President Harding
Held as Master Stroke on
Far East Issue.

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Far East Issue.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.
The Chinese delegation to the Wash
ington conference, in its appeal to
President Harding for advice on the
Shantung settlement and his good
offices in dealing with Japan made
through Minister SEE, has taken what
is considered the last step in its effort
to obtain concessions from Japan In
the matter of Shantung and. more
particularly, the Shantung railroad
The delegation can, and undoubtedly
has, informed its government that 1t
has used every avenue of approach
The Chinese have been in a large
measure successful in the discussions
over the Shantung railroad. The jap
anese delegates have made conces-
sions in regard to the matter of pay
ment for the railroad. have given
over their first proposal that the road
should be a joint Chinese and jap
anese concern. The Japanese also
! have made many concessions in re-
gard to the return of the leased ter
ritory in Shantung and the various
treaty which delegates Of Japan and
China will begin drafting tomorrow
will have the promise of full ultimate
control OF these properties. even
where Japan retains for the time
being some measure of control. The
Of one Chinese and one Japanese del
egate, each accompanied by two sec
retaries. The matter of Shantung
however, still hangs on settlement
iof the railroad question.
One Other Step Possible.
There is one other step which the
Chinese delegates might attempt in
regard to Shantung. They might
seek to have the full Washington
conference take the matter up and
discuss it. There have been sugges-
tions from the Chinese that they
! would attempt this, particularly if
the japanese did not yield to some
of their requests. But if they took
such a course. it is said, they would
| not be successful, for the reason that
an objection by Japan would block
| it. Seven of the nine powers as
sembled here are signatories to the
! Versailles treaty. under which Japan
was handed the former German con-
cessions in Shantuns. Having bound
themselves by this treaty. it is hard
! ly likely, it is said. that they would
| support China in an effort to have
the Shantung question opened up al
| the present conference.
The Chinese delegation. OF course
| must have the approval of its home
government in making a settlement
of the Shantung issue. If the dele.
gates fail to receive it, then 1T would
Ibe idle for them to make an agree
ment So the conference still waits
Suggestions have been made in the
past that in the end China would re-
fuse the Shantung settlement, and
would decline to sign the proposed
nine power treaty on the far east
Chfna's Future Course.
But if China took this course what
alternative faces her? She would be
in the same position that she was
| prior to the Washington conference
! only that there would be no long@
any washington conference to look
/ forward to as an amelioration OF
her ills. China would have to deal
| with Japan alone in reaching a set
tlement of the Shantung matter
| There would be no negotiations al
which American and British repre-
| sentatives would sit as observers
ready to extend their good offices
Only Railway Issue Remains.
| All the issues involved in the re.
turn Of the former German laas ieasehoio aoi
tied by the Japanese and Chinese
| delegates, except the important
Tsinanfu -Kiaochow railroad, Ths
delegates at a meeting yesterday aft.
ernoon cleared away the last Of the
| In conference circles the belief to.
; day is that the Shantung matter will
be settled finally in q few days al
! most.
Differences Very Small.
There is no doubt but what much
hinges upon the Shantung settlemen,
J and Chinese acceptance of the nine
| power treaty. The work of the
| Washington conference might be i'm.
| periled, for there Is strong sentiment
| in this country for China This very
sentiment and the fact that the United
| States has backed China has beer
largely responsible for China's OBJ.
tanning many things Of real benefit
which she is getting out Of this con.
The far east committee of tn,
i Washington conference is to NEE
| this afternoon. It will have befor,
| it a report Of the drafting committe,
on the subject Of wireless station,
in China The committee on draf
! will recommend that the resolution
| Of December T. providing that al
radio stations established in China with
out authority of the Chinese government
| be turned over to China on receip
Of fair compensation and that othel
radio stations be operated in con
formity with their charters. etc.
Other Proposals Up.
Several other proposals were befor,
the draft committee in regard t.
wireless, but no agreement could b
| reached on them and 1t was hnall!
decided to recommend that the va
rious recommendations contained II
! these additional resolutions he car
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