Evening star., 1922-01-19
CHINESE CONTROL
ANDUN|F|CAnONOF
RAILS PROVIDED
Far East Commi:tss Acts on
Resolutions Insurinq
Rights.
BUT ONE MORE ISSUE
YET TO BE SETTLED
Existing Commitments" in China
Taken Up-Conference Swiftly
Driving Ahead.
BIZ G. GOULD LINCoLN.

BIZ G. GOULD LINCOLN.
Discrimination in the operation Of
chinese railroads is forbidden under
resolution adopted unanimously by
the far east committee of the Wash
ln9ton conference today. The reso-
luton was offered by Sir Auckland
Geddes OF the British delegation
The committee also adopted unani-
| mously resolution offered BY Secre-
tary Hughes which puts the powers
on record as favoring SO far as pos
sible- ;he ultimate control of Chinese
, railways by the Chinese
The two resolutions were adopted
! as submitted to the committee yes
| terday afternoon, with a few changes.
Existing Commitments.
The question of existing commit
! ments" in China, the last item on the
conference agenda relating to China,
was then taken UP by the committee.
At the suggestion of the Chinese
delegation. the powers are to submit
to the conference a complete list OF
| All commitments relating to China.
This Is to include secret agreements
between China and other nations and
between other nations in regard to
emma. as well az those which have
already been published.
| The Chinese regard this step as of
! great Importance. In their opinion,
1t viii clear the atmosphere and en-
able the conference to deal inteilI-
| gently with the question of existing
concessions and commitments in
China.
Tne far east committee will meet
again tomorrow afternoon and at that
time a resolution providing for the
submission by the powers of the lists
/ OF existing commitments in China will
DC presented and adopted in accord
ance with the informal assent given
! today 1t is expected that 1t will take
several days to prepare these lists.
since home government will probably
have to be consulted. The Chinese
have already prepared their list, IL
was said.
! Text Of Resoluilsss.
The Hughes resolution. which looks
to ultimate control OF the Chinese
railroads by the Chinese, follows:
The powers represented in this
conference record their hope that
| to the utmost degree consistent
with legitimate existing rights.
the future development of rail-
/
Quoted as to enable the Chinese
government to effect the unifica-
tion of railways into q railway
| system under Chinese control, with
| cal assistance as may prove neces-
sary in the interests of that sys-
| tenn.
| Geddes' Resolution.
The resolution of Sir Auckland
Geddes. providing there shall be no
| determinations practiced in the oper-
alton of the railroads. follows:
THE Chinese government de-
clares that throughout the whole
of the railways In China it will not
| exercise or permit any unfair dis
| elimination. In particular. there
shall be no discrimination what
| ever. direct or indirect, in respect
ground of the nationality Of pas
| sengers or the countries from
| which or to which they are pro-
ceeding. or the origin or ownership
OF goods or the country from which
or to which they are consigned.
or the nationality or ownership OF
the ship or other means of convey
! ing such passengers or goods be-
fore or after their transport on
the Chinese railways.
The other powers represented at
| this conference take note of the
| above declaration and make 4 cor
| responding declaration in respect
| of any Of the aforesaid railways
/ over which they or their nationals
! are in a position to exercise any
| control in virtue of any conces-
sion. special agreement or other
| wise -
| Any question arising under this
| declaration may be referred by
| any power concerned to the board
! Of reference, when established for
consideration and report.
Conference Drives Ahead. =
The conference is driving ahead as
fast as possible in the consideration
of the far eastern problems. having
| temporarily abandoned consideration
of the naval Limitation treaty. Fol-
lowing the disposal of the railroad
questions, which will include also the
question Of the Siberian Eastern rail-
/ road, there will remain on the agenda
only the question of "existing COM
mittments" in China and Siberia.
! The question Of leased territories,
which was discussed earlier in the
conference. and was laid aside until
4 the Shantung problem should be set
tied. Is expected to come up again.
The 6ve-power naval Limitation
treaty is today tied up because OF the
| failure so far to consider further ar.
/ ticle XIX, which would provide for the
! retention Of the status quo Of forti-
| fcations In the Pacific islands. Word
is still being awaited from Japan on
this subject. But apparently IT is
understood in conference circles that
the treaty is not to be taken up for
consideration again for some days.
since some Of the members Of the
naval committee have left Washing
ton, to be gone until next week.
It is also generally understood now
in conference circles that. even II the
naval treaty is taken up and COM
pleted in committee, its formal reti-
fication by the conference itself will
be delayed until after some of the
yexinE questions Of the far east have
been settled.
settlenent Believed Sure.
| Particularly IL the settlement Of
the EhantunR problem awaited. 1t
was learned today that informal con-
yersations are continuing in which, the
heads of the American and Britfsh
! deleRations are taking part, In an ef-
fort to aid in the settlement Of the
Shantung railroad issue. In British
quarters the opinion was expressSd
today that settlement OF this matter
could not fail eventually.
4 The suggestion has been made In
4 conference circles. IL developed today.
that Article 10 Of the naval Limitation
treaty might well be left out Of that
4 treaty. md included IN the so-caned
4 four-power treaty relating to the
i pacific islands which has been signed
1 h~yfha Jfs,ftaH al &feG Great HFetRf1.