The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-01-19
Five Power Treaty Rewritten to
Meet Many Objections.
Automatically Continues Unless
Cancelled in Advance.
CHINA FORCING EASTERN ISSUE
Nations Agree to Lay Bare All
Treaties With Orient.
Pekin Delegation Wants Flat
Answer on Demands.

Washington. Jan. 19.-The new
f.ve-power naval treaty as now writ
ten will automatically extend itself at
the end of the fifteen year period un-
less one of the signatory powers gives
two years notice of a desire to abro-
gate it. This was disclosed today in
official quarters
The treaty has been rewritten half
a dozen times to meet the objections
Of the various powers concerned, II
was learned, and it is now probable
that article 10, the Notifications sec
ton, will be eliminated entirely from
the naval treaty and tackled on to the
four-powered Pacific treaty, which re-
places the Anglo-Japanese alliance.
VIII Reveal All Treaties.
What is regarded as the most i'm
portant step that has yet been taken
to really open up the door in China
was accomplished by the Washing
ton conference today.
Upon insistance from the American
delegation. the powers informally
agreed to lay before the conference
every treaty, agreement and under
standing which they have between
themselves, or between themselves
Chinese interests, whether they be Sc
cret or otherwise.
Chinese to Force Issue.
Temporarily defeated i'll their et-
forts to compel the Washington con-
ference to consider the validity OF the
famous twenty-one demands buI
grirnlv determined to force the issue
again at the first opportunity the
Chinese delegates were laying plans
today to keep the powers in Washing
ton until they get flat yes" or nc"
to their representations.
The twenty-one demands. a spokes-
man for the Chinese delegation sald,
are before the conference and Will
remain there until China is freed
from the japanese yoke" or until the
world powers here assembled admit
themselves unwilling to aid China in
obtaining redress for her wrongs.
tBv the Associated Press)
washington, Jan. 19.-The Ameriz
can and British proposals for promot-
ing an equitable development of rail-
road facilities in China formed the
subject Of discussion for today's meet
ing of the arms conference Far East
ern committee.
Except for brief statements by Sec
rrtary Hughes and Sir Auckland
Geddes in subm tting them to thel
committee, neither the American res
record their hope for an eventual uni
fication of transportation lines in
China under Chinese control. nor the
English proposal to pledge the powers
against discrim .natory practices on
roads under their control, was dis
cussed yesterday and it remained to-
Gay for the other powers to record
their attitude on both.
May Refer Questions.
While in neither proposal was there
any exclusion of either the Shantung
or Manchurian lines. in approaching
the ra lroad problem the committee
agreed at the suggestion of Secretary
Hughes that the question of the Chi
nese eastern railway be referred to a
special sub committee of Far Eastern
experts for separate consideration.
1t has been indicated that retention
of the present control of this line ira
Versing the border between Man
churia and Siberia, by an inter-a1lied
comm .ssion will be recommended in
view of the present unsettled condi-
lions in Russia.
Leave Open Door Que5t.on Open.
Altho the Chinese delegates re-
served the right to call up again the
provision of the American open door
proposal which would have author
lied an inquiry into existing conces-
sions in China, it was the general i'm
preston among the delegates today
this had been permanently side
tracked when it was stricken out Of
the resolution yesterday before adop-
ton of its other provisions.
Despite the view of many delegates
that this feature constituted the most
sweeping provision of the American
plan it was represented as the op.n-
ion of the American delegation TODAY
that its elimination did not materially
weaken the effect of the resolution as
there would still be an opportunity
under remaining provirions for exam
ination of existing concessions where
hofh narfias acrnnd to II