The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-01-04
Delegates To
Arms Meeting
Ready to Quit
Tendency to Press the Nego-
tiations to Conclusion is
Evident Now in Many
Quarters

Washington, Jan. 1.-The arms
conference begins the new year
with most OF its members looking
toward 4 final adjournment two
weeks hence, despite the prospect
OF having yet to clear away sev-
eral troublesome issues.
One OF the American delegates
predicted today that the iive-power
naval limitation treaty would be
put into final form during the COM
ing week, and that in the week
following a settlement would be ef-
fected covering the Far Eastern
field. The same expectation was
echoed in the foreign delegations.
most of whose members already
have made definite plans 10 leave
Washington about nid-January.
A tendency to press the negotia-
tons to a conclusion, even If some
Of the original h.ces for accom-
p!ishmenr have TO go by the board
is evident now in many quarters.
The delegates are said 10 feel that
seven weeks OF discussion have
quite fully developed the national
viewpoints OF Ill the powers. and
that little is to De gained now by
prolongins debate on points that
have brought 20 light serious divi-
sions OF opinions.
In pursuance of this policy, the
naval experts who are ironing out
details OF tho naval limitation plan,
viii disregard the New Year holi-
day tomorrow and spend the day at
work. None OF them expect 10 find
serious difficulty in the technical
adjustments remaining 70 be for
mulated to cover such questions as
methods Of replacement and scrap
ping and there is a general feeling
that the end Of the week may see
another plenary session OF the con-
ference for announcement Of q for
NAL tivc-power treaty covering the
naval limitation scheme.
AT tho same time announcement
may be made Of the new six-power
treaty partitioning the former Ger
man cable properties in the Pa
cific:. This instrument has not yet
received the formal approval of all
the interested nations, but the dele
gates seem confident that unani-
nous assent will not be long de-
layed.
The Far Eastern problems,
which will enter their period OF in
tensive discussion next week,
promise to develop some difficult
issues. The Shantung negotia-
tions are dcadlocked, the Chinese
request Of conference discussion OF
the twenty-one demands is meeting
with determined opposition from
the Japanese. and the Siberian Sit
uation has come suddenly into
prominence through publication to-
night OF alleged secret understand
irSA between the Japanese and the
French concerning a Japanese pol
icy toward Siberia.
An unofficial commission sent TO
the conference by the Far Eastern
Republic OF China, Siberia, made
public the alleged secret agree
ments Of the French and Japa-
nese governments. They wer e
promptly denied by the AFrench
and japanese plenipotentiaries
who denounced the documentary
evidence presented by the Far
Easter: commission as constituting
a forgery" ana malicious false
hood"
Whether the accusation will come
formally before the arms confer
encc il unc :itain, since the Far
Eastern Representatives. not only
are not members OF the confer
ence but are speaking for an un-
recognized government. The ST.
berian situation. however, is on the
agenda for the Far Eastern discus
Sions. and when ii is taken up for
consideration the Chinese or some
other delegation may inject the
Ear Eastern charges into the form
Al negotiations.
Ii \ plenary session is held this
week il is not impossible ihut its
program may include ratification
Of some clarifying instrument TO
definite the scope OF the four-pow-
IL Pacific treaty with reference 10
the principal Japanese islands. Ne
sotiations for such :; clarification
are proceeding. the Americans
having given assurances that they
will not oppose Japanese plan to
declare that the treaty does not
cover the Japanese homeland !"
The present discussions are said
to be tending toward accomplish
mcnt Of that end through 4 rescr-
vation signed by all the four pow
crS.
While this exchange is in prog
ress the opponents OF the treaty in
the senate are busy organizing TO
prevent its ratification. and are
losing no opportunity to carry their
;;ght To the country. Senator
Borah. Republican,. OF Idaho. de-
iivcrcd from the pulpit in Washing
ton today ana rGumtnt against un-
.'cSerrcd ratification. and his speech
was disseminated from tho capital
by wireless More discussion OF
the suhjrrt in the senate itself is
expected when it reconvcpes this
week after the holiday recess
WaShinston. Iall. Pros .a..nI