Evening star., 1922-01-20
ADVOCATE LISTING
OF COMMITMENTS
American and Chinese Dele
oates See Need of This in
Considering China.
OPEN DOOR preliminary
Action Is Believed Desirable Before
Effort Is Made for Revival
of Article w.

The listing of all the foreign claims
and commitments in regard to China,
both secret and public. with the
Washington conference is regarded
in American and Chinese circles as
necessary to proper consideration of
the entire question of existing COM
mitments in China, the last on the
agenda of the conference relating to
China
1t was indicated today that such
action is highly desirable before any
effort is made to revive article ~
of the Hughes open door resolution.
which was designed particularly to
bring about a review by an inter-
national board of existing conces
SionS in China, and which was laid
aside when the first three articles
Were adopted.
British support Assured.
A spok for the British dele
cation last night denied that the
British delegation had any desire to
kill article Nv, and said that the dele
cation stood ready now to support
it If it comes up again. Sir Robert
Borden, the Canadian representative
had merely suggested that the first
three articles be adopted and the
fourth left unacted upon, in the hope
of expediting the business of the con-
ference. -..... 49," .....
The first suggestion made in the far
east committee yesterday, that the
time had come for a presentation OF
the commitments in China to the
conference, was made by Secretary
Hughes. chairman. in calling atten-
ton to the fact that existing COM
mitucntS hau been reavr Il IN the
consideration of the agenda.
Wellington Koo of the Chinese dele
cation immediat teiy acquiesced in TINS
suggestion. He followed TINS Win d
proposal that full publicity should
be given TO all these commitments re-
garding China. Mr. koo also de-
clared that the validity of these COM
mitmentS should be passed upon by
the committee.
Suggestion for HnrmOnfxtng.
A third suggestion advanced by MIR.
Eoo was that "fter the validity OF
the existing commitments or claims
was determined steps should De
taken TO harmonic them with one
another and with the principles
adopted by the committee: 1t was
we'll known. he said. that there were
claims and commitments Wnicn His
have equal validity per Sc. but Wnlcn
might conflict with each other.
Spokesman for the British SAID
last night, however. that tnis con-
ference is not going to consider tnese
commitments" He added that there
&C hundreds of them and that it
would take judicial body long time
to go over them. He suggested tnat
the proposed board of reference; pro
vided for in the open door resoiutIori
recently adopted, should be the oooy
to- do this work. If it is to be done.
He took the position. also. that this
conference will not deal with existing
treaties. .as such" but that 1t deais
onlv with "subjects'' which may touch
upon existing treaties.
During the committee meeting yes
terday Sir Auckland Geddes, speaking
for the British, said his delegation
was fully prepared to publish all the
commitments of the British govern.
ment in China The vast majority OF
them, he declared. already had 1een
published. If the list were TO lnciuae e
all the trade treaties which migh!
touch China. however, he suggested .
that some time would be required to