The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-02-01
Period Of " aiting
AT. Arms sConferenre
Machinery Practically CO
to Standstill

Washington. j; 26 BY the
sociated Press THE nlachll y
Of the Washington conference ' r
tually came TO a standstill today
while the delegates awaited replies
from Presi1 ont Hardings move for
:. settlemeh on the Shantung con-
trovcrsy.
Optimism over the outcome Of
the president $ effort gained ground
in every quarter. and the belief was
unanimous that few remaining ma
jor issues Of the conference could
well be delayed for examination in
clearer atmosphere after the most
troublesome OF all the Far Eastern
problems is out OF the way.
Outwardly, the Shantuns prob
,cln itself was in waiting stage,
too. although important moves
were taking place behind the scenes
in Picking. Tokyo and Washington.
The japanese and Chinese an
.nounccCl HEY would. not meet ne-
fore Saturday. Ut the earliest, 10
consider formally the latest set
tIcn1ent proposal.
AS if preparing for the an
nouncemcnt OF Il complete agree
mcnt, however. the pienipotentiar-
los Of the Tokyo and Peking gov
ernmcntS today cleared away the
last remaining collateral issues OF
The Shantung negotiation and
agreed TO meet Saturday morning
to begin the drafting OF treaty.
Only the central problem Of
singta0-Tsinanfu railroad to
which the compromise proposal
supported by President Harding ts
directed now remains unsettled.
The Shantuns meeting and a
session OF the drafting subcommit-
tee at which the Chinese radio res
olution Of December { was reaf-
1irmed, after agreement. on addi-
tional declarations had failed, con-
stituted the sum Of formal confer
encc activities during the day. The
December resolution provides
wireless concessions in China,
while the proposed addition would
have directed future development
OF the Chinese wireless system.
1t was decided 10 enter these re-
jectod propositions on the confer
ence record as representing indi-
! vid,,al viewpoints
Meantime another conference
drawback disappeared when the
Italians made known their readi-
ness 10 assent 10 the six power
treaty allocatilg the former Ger
man cables III the Pacific on the
assurance OF conference leaders
that Italy later will be supported
in her claim TO u share in the ca
BILE lines formerly controlled by
Germany in the Atlantic. Compile
! ton OF this treaty. dividing the Pa
cihc lines between the United
States, Japan ard the Netherlands,
is expected withing a few days.
AS viewed by some OF the dele
gates llIc Cttbtc u S'ttS IL IL - N<li1J
+ the only agreement Of the Wash
| ington conference, that is not in
some degree affected by the log
jam. Ole which Shantung is the
Icentcr. Should an agreement over
! the former German leased terri
tory fail. it is conceded generally
that the'eTect would be far reach
ing on the whole Far Eastern Sit
uation and through that medium,
in turn. on the naval agreement
and four power Pacific treaty.
JUS, how harrow has become the
I: difference remaining between the
japanese and Chinese over Shan
tung Is not revealed. but all out
| ward signs tonight indicated that
only one or two points Of the rail-
road tangIc reriaineti 10 be settled.
While the Japanese have made
no formal expression, it is under
stood they arc disposed TO accept
the deferred payment plan Of the
! latest compromise project in place
i of the loan on which they have
insisted heretofore. China, on her
part, is said 10 be ready to agree
also TO deferred payments, al-
though ihc term for which her
treasury notes are 10 run is al
other frt,eStion.