The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-02-03
Japan Is Willing to Make Furth-
er Concessions in Man
I. churia and Mongolia.
tey rae Associatsd pre.sl

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2.-Japan met
China part way today on the latter's
request for abandonment of the cele-
brated ''21 demands" program of 1915.
Taking the center of the stage as
the final scene of the arms conference
began, the Japanese announced their
government was ready to give UP en-
tirely group five of the demands.
which China has held was calculated
to rob her of her sovereignty, and to
make further concessions regarding
economic privileges and political and
military preferences in Manchuria and
Mongolia
Tomorrow China is to reply in n
statement, that is expected to bring
the far eastern negotiations to an end,
and on Saturday the Washington con-
ference probably viii adjourn sine die
after q plenary session for formal
adoption of the far eastern treaties.
Consideration of the "21 demands"
the last topic remaining on the far
east agenda of the conference, began
in the far eastern committee after hope
of an adjustment of the Chinese east
ern railway situation had been aban-
doned and a resolution adopted mere
ly declaring that arrangements for
better protection" of the road should
be worked out in the near future
through the regular diplomatic chan
nels. The powers other than China
appended joint declaration Of
China's responsibility for fulflIment
of her obligations to foreign stock
holders of the road.
Japans statement on the demands
waS presented by Baron Shidehara,
who argued that the Chinese request
for abrogation of fne treaties and
agreements resulting from the 1915
program could not be supported by a.
plea of invalidity, because the agree
ments made were entered into by
China in the exercise of her full pow
ers as sovereign state. To question
treaties because they We're made under
duress, he said, would be to challenge
the validity of many Of the most in-
portant existing international eoncords
throughout the world. He excused the
delivery of an ultimatum to China, just
before her partial acceptance of the
demands" as an expedient to bring
the prolonged negotiations to an end.
Three concessions were announced
by Baron Shidehara, one relating to
group five and the others to the situa-
ton in Manchuria and Mongolia
Japan was ready he said. TO withdraw
the reservation attached to the Chi
nese- Japanese treaty of 1916, under
which she retained the right to press
further in the future the uaaccepted
group flye One of the other conces-
sions will open up south Aianchuria
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ternational consortium and the other
asserts that Japan has no intention OF
insisting that Japanese advisers be
employed in these territories in politi-
cal, financial, military or police mat
ters.
The famous group five. thus cast
into the discard after it had been the
center of the demands" controversy
for the past six years, would have re-
auired China to employ Japanese po-
litical, financial and military advisers
in her central government, give to Jap
anese the right to jointly police with
China certain important Chinese areas.
establish in China a joint Chinese
Japanese arsenal and grant to Japan
important mining and railroad conces-
! sions. These requirements, the Chi
nese declared, would mean the end OF
Chinese sovereignty.
In their reply tomorrow the Chinese
are expected to voice renewed pro-
! test over the demands program and
! il is probable that the views Of the
! two governments will be spread for
nally on the records OF the conference
without any attempt to adopt a joint
| declaration on the schedule. 1t is pos
sible that the American government,
/ which at the time of 1915 negotiations
indicated its disapprovaI OF the man
! ner in which the Japanese proposals
J were pressed upon China, may also
! enter a formal statement of its posi-
tIon.
! As it-approached a final wind-up OF
tts calendar, the far eastern commit
tee also touched on the question OF
leased territory in China, but no pros
I pect Of action appeared.
II is the present expectation to final
/ II conclude the far eastern discussions
at tomorrow's meeting OF the far east
!, ern committee. and also to put tbs
series of resolutions relating to China
| into treaty form for presentation at a
| plenary session on Saturday.
The signatures OF the plenipoten-
/ tiaries would be attached to both tle
naval and far eastern treaties or
/. Monday, at a single ceremony at the
state department. Whether the Chi
1 nese resolutions are TO make up twe
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