Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-01-05
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UnI nI nUULT III
MERCHANT 7 SHIP
BAN ON BOATS
Puzzling Problems Of
Arms arley Swept to
Point of Decision.
China's Plea That Il
Demands Be Brought
Up May Make Trouble

Washington, Jan 4-(By The As
sociated Press. AFTER a five-day New
Years breathing space, arms negotia-
tions were resumed Wednesday with
an impetus that swept some Of the
most troublesome problems almost to
the point of decision. Uppermo ost
among separate discussions which ap-
peared to be reaching a conclusion was
the controversy between the Japanese
and Chinese over Shantung 1t was in
dicated that the conversations might
end Thursday and the predominating
belief was that the result would be an
agreement rather than final dead
lock.
A final agreement also was in sight
on revised Chinese tariff. After long
argument, the tariff sub committee
came together on proposal to increase
China's tariff schedules under an in
ternational commission plan and the
far eastern committee of the whole is
expected to ratify the decision Thurs
day.
Naval Plan Matter Of Hours
Among naval experts so much pro-
gress was made with technical details
of the naval limitation plan that in
some quarters it was declared final
disposition was only a question Of
hours. Precise regulations for scrap
ping ships and details of replacement
were numbered among the days agree
ments in the naval sub committee.
On submarine regulations japan con-
tributed another step towards decision
by accepting in principle the Root res
olutlons proposing to outlaw the use
of submarines against merchant vessels
and to make violations of submarine
regulations acts of piracy. Italy alone
remains to accept the proposition.
AT Thursdays meeting of the far
eastern committee, however, new
troubles may be encountered through
China's request that the famous "21
ence discussion. A protest was lodged
by Japan just before the last meeting
of the committee adjourned, and what
promises to be stubborn debate is
expected by some delegates.
Few Sub StickIers Left
In some quarters also, considerable
discussions is believed likely before
there is a definite decision on the Root
dicated a desire to see some terms of
the resolutions fully discussed and
clearly defined, and although the French |
said Wednesday night they did not pro-
pose to press the point, it was indi- /
Gated some troublesome points prob |
ably would be injected into the CONVEX
sations sooner or later
Meantime, the American advisory I
committee canvassed opinion on the I
question, with the result /
hat the committees previous position
,or retention of the underwater craft |
within strict regulations was reaffirm- |
ID.
Naval Report Ready !,
The virtual completion of the report
o be submitted by the committee of
laval experts to the naval committee
# the armament conference and agree
nent of the committee on Chinese
ariff on 5 per cent effective basis
we're two important Developments,
Wednesday, in the conference situation.
The report of the experts, which
will embody precise definition of the
eplacement schedules, as well as the
xact method Of scrappnig ships which
re to be eliminated from the navies
# the signatory powers, is ready for
he naval committee.
Chinese Revenue Raised
While the rate agreed upon by the
ub bcommittee on Chinese tariff is
he same as that provided in Chinese
reaties, the fixing of s per cent as
be reflective rate is expected to re-
ult in q clear increase of approxi-