Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-01-31
END OF arms
CONFERENCE IS
NOW IN sight
Japan Yields On Shantung
and Pact Fir
ished
EFFECT COMPROMISE
Japan Agrees With u. S., on FOrtif-
cations in The Pacifiic-World Is
sue is Settled

Washington, d. c., Jan. 31.-Two
of the major problems remaining be-
| fore the arms conference have been
| finally settled-Shantung, and the
Pacific Notifications.
As consequence, the end of the
arms conference is in sight
! Settlement of the question of for
tifications in the Pacific means that
the five power naval treaty-under
the terms Of which the United States,
Great Britain, Japan, Italy and
, France agree to limit armament on
the sea-is complete.
Secretary Hughes has summoned
plcnary session of the conference to
meet tomorrow morning, at which
time the terms of the treaty will be
formally announced to the world!
The Shantung agreement deals with
the way in which the Tsinan-Tsingtao
Railway properties will De transferred
from Japan to China. 1t was the one
point relating to Shantung which had
not previously been settled, and the
one on which disagreement had
brought about deadlock. It's effect
will be to take the Japanese out of the
Shantung peninsula completely with
IN five wears.
The Shantung matter, technically,
was not before the arms conference.
1t was the subject Of direct negotia-
tions between the Chinese and the
japanese delegates, arranged by Sec
"etary Hughes and Arthur ]. Balfour,
in the role Of mediators. It was,
nevertheless, matter for deepest
concern to the conference, and the
failure to agree had delayed the con-
fusion Of deliberations. Had an
agreement not been reached, tn e.
tire success of the conference would
have been imneriled.
Here are the major points o ta,
Shantuug settlement:
II China is.-to purchase the n;i,
way properties with Chinese treasrl,
notes in deferred payments eXten ZIG
over period of fifteen years. with an
option to buy outright in five years.
2. China is to have control of the
railroad through a Chinese managing
Iirector-a Japanese traffic manager
will be subject to the Chinese manag-
nm director.
9. China and Japan will each have
an accountant, with equal powers.
The agreement was reached IN
session that lasted for more than SIX
hours yesterday. 1t rs, according to
the delegates, a real agreement and
needs only TO he reduced to written
form. Another session or the delega-
tionS will be held today.
The Hughes Balfour compromise
proposal furnished the basis for reach
ing common ground This was offer
nd when the delegates had been un-
able to agree among themselves.
President Harding had interested him.
self in bringing about acceptance OF
the compromise.
The delegations made no f0rma an
nounccment Of their agreement. This,
they thought, might be done by Hughes
and Balfour, since they had brought
The negotiations about.
Chinese spokcsmer said the Chinese
would avail themselves of the option
to buy the railwa in five years.
Money already is being collected for
that purpose, they said The Jap
ancse joint control would thcreupon
terminate.
The Chinese. in acccpting the COM
promise. yielded on their desire to
have comnlcte and immediate rest0ra-
tion Of the railway The Japanese
desired a greater share in control, con-
tending their interests in China war
rantcd this.
The Shantung question has been
4 world issue ever since the peace
conference in Paris. when the former
'""r,an leasnhold was awarded to the
Japanese. The award was factor in
bringing about American Reputation
If the treaty OF Versailles. Had the
Japanese refused to get out at the
nrcSent conference the success of the
arms conference treaties in the Sem
ato mnuld have been in doubt
Clearing away Of the two ques-
| tions-Shantung and fortifications-
leaves only matters partaInlng to the
." East. and details Of no great i'm
nortance. to be settled Chief among
he remaining issues IS the discus
sion Of the ''twenty-one demands" and
progress has hccn made toward har-
| mony in this direction.