The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-02-04

four proposals by which, the Hart
ford Times DEM remarks, 'he
put the good faith of the powers
u the test" The conference adopt
ed three of them, the net result, as
the Waterbury Comm Republican
tRep) gives it, being that the dele
gates pledge the nations not to
seek spheres of influence or monop-
olies in China in the future, and
provide for an international board
OF reference to which may be re-
ferred differences regarding future
concessions and leases for ''inyes-
tigation and report"
@0nly a Partial Victory.
The American policy gains only
a partial victory in the endorse
nlent" which it received from the
Conference delegates, as the Wheel
ing Intelligencer (Rep.) points out,
because the important fourth ar
ticle was withdrawn" upon ia
pans objection. This article, which
in the opinion of many American
editors is the only one that can
make for Justice to China, was in
tended to commit the powers to a
review of existing concessions"
and for the submission of any OF
them which appeared inconsistent
with other concessions or with the
principle of equal opportunity ito
a board of reference for the pur-
pose of endeavoring to arrive at
satisfactory adjustment on equIta-
Bile terms"
The Japanese Interpretation of
the open door, as advanced by
Baron Shidehara and reported by
the New York Times Qnd. DEM,
implies that the door will be open
TO trade on equal terms in those
parts of China which have not al
ready been reserved for the ex-
elusive profit and behoof of Japan
and other powers" Thus ~the past
is secure" the Philadelphia Record
lind. Dem) says, for with the
abandonment of any attempt at re-
troaction the Hughes resolution
will not release China"
Article four was withdrawn
without prejudice, it is reported,
and may later be considered, but
1t is by no means so unimportant"
as its abandonment without pro-
tests suggests, the New York Globe
(Ind.) holds. Mr.. Hughes acknowl-
edged that declarations essentially
the same as those contained in his
resolution were accepted in 1900
by all the powers, including Japan,
and in the opinion of the Globe it
naturally follows that the appli-
cation of these principles to the
concessions obtained between 1900
and 1922 would not be unfair" But
plain TO the Cleveland Plain Dealer
Ind. Dem) that while they accept
the open door as ga slogan, a plati-
tude," they do not intend it to be
interpreted too literally or applied
100 relentlesSly' as policy.
Frankly the nations have agreed
mat the burglar may keep the loot
ne has, but shall get no more, the
Philadelphia Public Ledger Qnd.)
observes, some good horses have
been stolen, but the stable is to be
locked"
Mark Of Progress.
But even thus emasculated the
Hughes proposal is valuable" the
Plain Dealer says further, for 1t
Will doubtless serve to prevent fur
ther encroachments,'' and, as the
nuHalo News (Rep.) expresses II:
We are getting along when eight
powers agree that Chinese have
some rights" The resolution which
.ae conference adopted not only
oinds the participating nations
once more not to seek monopo-
nslc or discriminatory privileges
II China" but, the New York Trib-
uhe tRepD emphasizes the proVi-
son for the first time, Of ma
tainery to deal with infractions or
this self-denying ordinance; for by
Tue creation of an international
board of reference Ito act as UNI
pre- on all complaints of infringe
hents' the open door is provided
WITH 'doorkeeper". and this the
tribune heralds as "a constructive
achievement"
But while Mr.. Hughes failed TO
get a real open door, the Brook
tyn Eagles (Ind- Dem) notes that
ne has secured "the open window
as an alternative, for il We cannot
d once have equality of opportu-