Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-01-19


The paragraph. which is regarded in
some quarters as the heart OF the
American open door resolutions. reads
as follows:
THE powers, including China.
represented at this conference
agree that any provisions of an
existing concession. which appear
inconsistent with those of another
concession or with the principles
of the above agreement or declara-
tion Prospecting the open door,
may be submitted by the parties
concerned to the board of refer
ence when established for the pur-
pose of endeavoring to arrive at
satisfactory adjustment of equitable
terms.
Viewed By many delegates as the
most sweeping provision of the Ameri-
can plan. the existing concessions ar
ticie was the center of debate, various
delegates opposing it on the ground
that it might lead to an almost endless
inquiry into the validity of the maze
of economic arrangements in force
in China For the American dele
CATION. however. it was said that the
eliminated article was not considered
provisions of the plan would permit
examination of existing concessions
where both parties agree TO it.
r. r. intrigues to Cease
As adopted the open door resolution
contains a mutual pledge not TO seel
spheres of influence or monopolies il
China. and authorizes creation of AZ
international board of reference witt
power to investigate and report on an,
case which seems to involve violation
of the principle of equal economic ant
commercial opportunity.
Turning to the problem of raiiwa,
control in China, the committee lait
cussions by hearing two resolutions
promoting equitable development o
Chinese rail facilities.
The first, introduced by Sir Auck
land Geddes, of the British delega
ton. would pledge the powers aeains
discriminatory practices on roads un
der their control The other. present
ed by Secretary Hughes, would express
hope that the transportation line;
in China might be welded eventual.
into unified system under Chimes
control.
Coal and Iron Mines Go Back
In neither proposal were there ex
ceptions made on the Shantung o
| Manchurian lines. now under r1apanes
supervision, but the committee recog
nizes the separate status of the Chi
nese Eastern railway by referring
| that whole subject TO special sub
| committee of far eastern experts. Tn
! latter road, trayersing the border be
| tween Manchuria and Siberia. now i
under control Of an inter allied com
mission.
/ The negotiations between Japanes
| and Chinese over the general Shan
| tung problem were advanced one NOR
| step by an agreement for return t
China of the coal and iron mines il
Kiao Chow leased territory. On tn
! pivotal question of the return of th
! Shantung railway. however, there wer
no further developments.
+, In the negotiations on the nava
! treaty there also was lapse of activ
| ity. the section dealing with Paeifi
j fortifications remaining in an uncertain
! status.
Japan Asserts Special Interest
! A member of the Japanese delega
tjou reiterated Wednesday that .Iapal
! has no fundamental objection to TIL
American proposal. He explained that
| ms the resolution refers specificall
to a part Of the world in which Japal
| feels she possesses a very special in
/ terest. the American plan would b
closely examined, while the proposes
establishment Of board of referenc
would have TO be worked out with tn
utmost care, in the opinion Of his as
sociates.
While some Japanese held that tn
resolution affects the issues raised b
the so-called q demands treaty, the
did not appear excited over the possi
| BILE application Of the resolution I
these phases of the far eastern situa
ton, it being explained that Japal
would never consent to any question
| ing of the validity Of the 81 demand
treaty, but was ready either at tn
present conference or before the pro
posed board of reference, to discusA tn
principle of the open door. In othe
worlds, it was said Japan has no objec
tions ia .other powers seeking and re
ceiving Opportunities which she ha
obtained In China. including Manchu