The Washington herald., 1922-01-18

The government Of the United
States is endeavoring to make the
open door" in China a fact rather
than a motto.
That was the outstanding devel-
opment Of yesterdays session Of
the armament conference. The
American delegation. speaking
through Secretary Hughes. made
definite proposals to compel eousI
opportunity for all peoples an
China
A definite program was suggested
by the Americans. Il was made the
subject Of considerable debate. In
principle some Of the. suggestions
were approved.
only on one proposition was there
any dissension That grew out OF
the suggestion. fathered by the
French delegation. that existing
concessions necessitated different
consideration than future ones.
The general problem sim r.
mains under debate. But il yvss
argued in all conference circles
that, II the American plan finally
is adopted. even though slightly
modihed. the greatest forward Sfep
possible TO remove China from be-
ing possible cockpit for war" IN
the East has been taken.
Nations I'm same Stains. -.
Originally Secretary Hughes p-o-
posed an agreement whereby the
eight powers represented here
CHINA for obvious reasons hem
eHcIuded-with view to applying
more effectively the policy OF THE
open door should agree amons-
themselves not TO seek or supporT
their nationals in any effort o. So
cure any general superiority az
rights and rot to create monopoly
OF rights in any designated region.
and also would outlaw anv effort "a
SECURE concessions which were %
an improper nature and would civa
a monopoly
After they were presented the
question arose Of whether some
machinery should not be ostab-
lished which would aid in carrying
out the spirit OF the proposed
! resolutions. The various delcca
/ NANhAH NhAAN ANAfAN NNNNfElN were con
suited and then similar resolutions
were presented which. after pIedr-
/ ing the various nations not TO yio-
late tho principles proposed. that
the Chinese government should
take notice and agree to be guided
! by the agreement.
For Board Of Reference.
II then was provided that the
powers represented here. including
China, should create and establish
a board Of reference which would
pass upon any claim that any
power had violated the agreement
and after considering the evidence
would make all of the facts public
for the benefit OF the moral opinion
Of the world. II also WAS provided
that where existing concessions sp-
peared TO violate the spirit Of this
agreement they could be conSid
cred by the board Of reference.
This board under the agreement
was to be constituted under similar
plans to that under which the new
Chinese tariff board is to be con-
structed. This would have all Of
the powers now represented here.
and any additional powers who
might have their treaty rights af-
fected, name this board.
The object OF the investigatfur
by this board OF Inquiry would D,
SO that all facts in cases under
which complaints were made should
be elucidated while. at the sane
time, the sovereign rights Of a'
nations affected would be protected
The result Of coG-se would not be
binding upon a nation unless 81 was
desired that IL should be. In NJ
way could any decision by such a
board affect vested rights. but any
decision that was made would he
subject to the moral pressure OF
the world.
PrsctIcabIlity Desired.
So far as the United STATES is
concerned its position is that il is
anxious that the open door shall
be all that IL has been supposed to
be. The delegation has talked
about this several times. but 81 has
decided that IL will be satisfied
with results. Phrases will mean
nothing. what they desire ~ ab,su-
lutte prscticability and every enorr
will be devoted 20 securing this
result.
So soon as the resolutions wess
CoHtt.ued o. Poss 7Rres,