The New York herald., 1922-01-09
FIVE POWER NAVAL
TREATY NOW READY
Continued from First Page.

ton" in the settlement or this dispute.
Secretary Hughes is still In the position
of limiting his suggestions OF a COM
promise to plans which will be accept
able to both parties
The Chinese delegates feel they are
in an embarrassing situation owing to
the fact that the general public believes
their position less essential than they
deem it themselves.
When it is suggested that there is
little difference in the proposals SUBJ
mitted by the Japanese and Chinese for
the control of the Shantung Railroad
the Chinese reply that the difference Is
nothing less than continued Japanese
control of the road or the substitution
of Chinese control.
Contentious of Both Sides.
Given another five years OF control
of the road, the Chinese profess to be-
lieve that at the end of that time Japan
would find some new means OF be-
fuddling the issue and would never give
the property back to China. The plain
ntimation of the Japanese, on the con-
trary. is that the Chinese are not ca
pable OF managing the road properly
and that they must look after their own
interests.
AS the question of Siberia and Man
churia is approached on the agenda 1t Is
clear that the Anglo-Japanese alliance
Is still working and that the British are
giving the Japanese encouragement in
maintaining their position in that copn-
try. The French are apparently of the
opinion also that there is no occasion In
this conference to bring pressure dpon
Japan to get out OF Siberia.
This leaves the United States alone
in the position of combating the Japan
ese position in Siberia and Manchuria.
1t is not expected that the American
delegation will shirk its responsibilities
in this connection. but will propose to
talk of the Siberian question with the
utmost frankness.
The State Department in q note to
Japan has already made Americas po-
sition clear as opposed to Japanese oc-
cupation of Siberia and has proposed
that the Powers assume. 9 moral trustee
ship for Russia. Japan is not prepared
to move out of the maritime province of
Siberia ana will resist any effort to in
duce her to leave now.
She will continue to hold that the
safety of Manchuria and Corea depends
upon her presence in Siberia until such
time as a stable Russian Government
shall be able TO give ample assurance
that these sections will be free from
attack This leaves the time of with
drawal wholly within the hands OF
Japan.
To he in Nine Power Agreement.
A general statement of position rela-
tive to Siberia Will be included in the
nine power Asia.lc agreement which
will aim to pledge the Powers TO re-
spect the territorial integrity or botn
China and Siberia. With this accom-
plishment the American delegation VIII
probab bly, have to be content.
The assistance OF the European Pow
ers will enable Japan to keep the treaty
with China growing out OF the twenty
one demands" outside OF the conference,
yielding only to the extent Of making
public argument as to why the CONFER
ence should not consider this agreement.
The American delegation has taken the
same view as indicated by the fact that
Elihu Root has been quoted as saying,
apropos of this treaty which the Chinese
want abrogated. that "after all, treaty
is treaty" Under this treaty japan
obtains the extension of her power for
approximately 100 years in the Lao
NuIE DC1lHSuld, WHICH Nlit CbiiiSSC soy
Is equivalent TO annexation.
Notwithstanding the disappointment
which the Chinese feel in not having
gained conference consideration of the
"twenty-one demands" and Of the treaty
giving Japan her foothold in the Lao
tung. the Chinese delegates viii be able
to go home with much accomplished.
The four Root resolutions declaring
for the open door and pledging the
Powers to respect the territorial integ-
rity OF China Is marked achievement.
IL IS true that the differences between
China and Japan viii remain unsettled.
But China is in position to consolidate
her power and reestablish herself on
firm basis. If she can do this, she will
then be in a better position to resist
Japan.
Heretofore when the Western Powers
contemplated carving UP China the first
step was to declare In favor OF the
territorial integrity of the country
Under the proposed arrangement nine
Powers will he Jointly pledged to OBJ
serve the sanctity OF Chinese boundaries
and governmental integrity and China
will have the right TO appeal to the
other Powers for consideration of any
alleged violations OF the agreement.