The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-01-18
THE SHAN1UNC
DISPUTESTILL
UNSETTLED
Concensus of. Opinion
in All Quarters is
That China and ia ;
pan Can R e a c h
Amicable Agree
naent

Washington. Jan. by the
Associated Press).-lf the Shan
tunS conversations make the pro-
grcss hoped for by conference lead
crs during the next two or three
days, the end Of the coming week
may see all of the issues raised IN
the Washington negotiations we'll
Oh the way towards solution.
|. Confidence that the Shantunc
.problcm is nearing Il settlement was
apparent in mostmuartcrs tonight
the delegates feeling that with the
other Far Eastern questions IN
allegiance the separate exchanges
between the Chinese and japanese
over the former German leaSehold
would be pressed forward rapidly.
Neither Of the two groups dircctlr
interested was prepared to sa, that
an agreement was In sight but the
evidenced a hope that fresh in
StrIctions from Tokyo and Pelllns,
expected hourly. might help mater
tally to clear up the situation. AS
soon as Shantung is out Of the way
and perhaps sooner, the conference
Far Eastern committee will resume
its Considerations Of other prob
lens. On most Of the remaining
issuts the delegates have informed
themselves thoroughly regarding
the views Of ether groups and the
The naval negotiations seems
also to be as good as completed, the
treaty text agreed 10 by the big
five" being regarded as virtually
certain to meet with approval, sue
ceSively. Of the full naval commit
tee and Of tho conference itself.
sitting in plcnary session. Both
of these meetings probably will be
held during the coming week,
leaders planning to set the confer
ence machinery in motion for final
approval OF the treaty as soon as
Tokyo sends formal approval Of
the article dealing with Pacific for
tilic&tions.
:. .Settlemcnt. Of tho Shantnng ques-
ton Still rests. largely. in flic hands
OF Arthur j. Ealfour and Sccre-
tary hughes. III the opinion OF
Chinese Spokesmcn.
Both the Chinese and Japanese
delegations tonight were waiting
for instructions from their govern
mcnts as. to the attitude they must
takc..on the hughes Balfour COM
promise suggestions designed to af-
ford Il basis for agreement on both
Of the phases Of the problem which
up to now have seemed insolublc.
These phases touch upon the meth
cd Of payment for the Tsingato-
Tsinganfu railroad and the nation
ality of the men who will hold the
positions of traffic manager and
chief accountant for the railroad
after its transfer.
Whether the Japanese and Chi
ncSe delegates can get together
this wccl; was said to be dependent
on tho nature Of the instruction
to their respective delegations from
the peking and Tokyo governments.
While the Chinese delegation has
been in almost daily colnmunica-
ton with Picking during the last
few days. cables from the Chinese
government have been in the ma
ture of inquiries concerning pos
slblc obscure features Of the pro-
posalS.
The Chinese government. how
ever. it is understood, has notified
its delegation Of the difficulty Of
compromising on either question.
The Balfour-Hughes compromise
son various combinations of these
questions in n form that might per-
NIT either the Japanese and Chi
ncSc to give in on ono and retain
tho other, or might enable China
by sacrificing the chief accountancy
position. TO obtain a concession for
payment in cash or inStallmentS
for the road. at the same time as
surinS Chinese control over the
road through Il Chinese traffic man
aScr.
1t the Chinese delegation head
quarters there was said to be hope
without optimism, that the Shan
tunS question will be settled
through the Japanese giving in on
the railway phase Of the dispute
In no other way, the Chimes.
say. can a settlement satisfactory to
the Chinese be reached. There is
no inclination, ii WAS said by the
Chinese. to accept Il compromise
concerning the question OF loan
and China could not agree TO any
settlement which would not assure
China undivided physical control
Of the railway The Chinese dclc-
CATION. it WAS asserted. would
stand pa" the question OF,
management and would insist on y
{ ChincSc traffic chief and account
ant
The Chinese declare they are not
in the position TO rccctc on The
question OF the principle involved
aad that there is nothing for them
to do but wait in the hope that Mr.
l.altour and Secretary hughes will
be abl" TO affect settlement
through the japanese. Both Nh
hughes and M Balfour one Chi
nc>c official said tonight. UNDER
stand the difficulties the Chinese
face in the existing situation at
home, with the Chinese people on
the verge Of domestic turmoil over