South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-01-14
SHANTUNG ISSUE
GETS SPOTLIGHT
AT CONFERENCE
Delegates Anxious to Solve
Problem Before Proceed
ing With Plans.
WORK on NAVAL TREATY
Japanese and Chinese Groups
Reach Agreement for Open
ing KiaO-ChOw.

WASHINGTON. Jan. 10. - With
naval treaty virtually completed, the
arms delegates are preparing TO turn
the conference spotlight on shan
tung. apparently in the hope that a
settlement OF that controversy may
make It easier TO go ahead with
other troublesome problems Of the
far east.
II now IS the expectation in con-
ference circles that during the next
few days, and probably until a de-
cision is reached. the Shantung ne
gotiations will have the right OF way
while discussion Of other far eastern
subjects remains at a standstin. SO
far the Shantung exchanges have
taken place between the Japanese
and Chinese alone, with American
and British observers present. but
the next phase OF the conference pro-
gram Is expected at least to concen-
trate upon the problem the friendly
interest Of all the governments rep
resented here.
Reach Agreement.
At their meeting Friday the Japa-
nese and Chinese groups reached an
agreement for opening up the entire
Kiao-Chow leased territory TO for
eign trade. and Saturday they are TO
take up other OF the collateral ques-
lions involved in restoration Of the
ieasehold TO China. Their sessions
Will form the only item appearing
on tomorrow's conference program.
In the naval negotiations only a
few details, considered more or less
perfunctory, remain TO be arranged.
An agreement has been reached re-
garding methods OF scrapping, under
which discarded battleships may be
Corverted in some cases into airplane
carriers and training ships. and a
final settlement relating TO Pacific
Notifications awaits a reply expected
hourly from Toxic.
II present plans develop. the final
draft OF the naval treaty will be laid
before the full naval committee
early next week and will be pub
licly announced at a plenary session
or the conference a few days later.
Element OF Delay.
one possible element OF delay in
concluding the naval convention was
eliminated Friday when the French
delegation received Instructions from
Pres't Millerand to go ahead with its
conference duties regardless of the
cabinet crisis at Paris.
Under the scrapping provisions as
finally agreed to the United States
and Japan are understood TO bA au-
thorized 20 change into airplane car
riers some OF the battleships now I'M
der construction, but which under
the original plan would have gone
TO the scrap heap, while France and
Italy are 10 be permitted 10 convert
into training ships the dreadnaught7
OF their fleet which by the agree
ment are 70 become obsolete In 1891.
This decision was formally recorded
at a meeting Of the big Eve" de-
voted mostly 10 a denomination Of
the treaty draft for technical legal
revision.
Important Session.
The meeting Of the Chinese and
Japanese. resulting In agreement for
opening up kiao-Chow TO trade. was
regarded IN some quarters as one OF
the most important of the sessions
that have been in progress on the
Shantung problem. The policy Of an
open door" Is 10 be applied in trade
development Of the territory. the
TWO delegations agreeing that all ma
tions should have equal economic
privileges. In addition, China is TO
undertake 70 protect the vested FOR
eign interests that may be installed
there. Kiao-Chow is 10 be a free
port.
The decision 70 give the ShantunE
problem the right Of way "a details
OF the present naval agreement clear
up was Interpreted generally as an.
ether evidence of the fundamental
importance attached by the confer
ence leaders TO questions or the long
contested fromer German leasehold
In American quarters particularly
there Is apparent a belief that a final
settlement OF the Shantung situation
Is almost Indispensable 70 the pro-
Continued on Page A.