CHINA'S DEVELOPMENT

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 279, 23 November 1921, Page 5

CHINA'S DEVELOPMENT

ATTITUDE OF THE POWERS.

FOUR PRINCIPLES ADOPTED. RESPECT FOR INTEGRITY. THE OPEN DOOR. (Uv Cai'lc— Press Association.-Copyright.) WASHINGTON". November 22 The secretariat of the Washington Conference issued the following communique this evening: "The committee on Far lva.-tern questions this afternoon discussed a series of resolutions prepared for their consideration by Mr. EHhu Root, setting: forth general principles to Kui.te the committee in its further investigations in regard to China, which. after full discussion and amendment, were adopted." The resolutions are as follows: "Tt is the firm intention of the Powers attendin- this conference: "1. To respect the sovereignty, independence, and territorial and administrative integrity of China: -•2. To provide the fullest and most unembarrassed opportunity to China to develop and maintain for herself an effective and stable (ioovernment: "To u.-e iheir influence for the purpose of effectually establishing and maintaining the principle of equal opportunity for the commerce and industry of all'nations throughout the territory of IT. inn;

"I. To refrain from taking advanta{*e of the present conditions in order to seek special rights nnd privilep-s which would abridge t lie rights of subjects or citizens of friendly States, and from countenancing action inimical to the security of such States." A COMMON POLICTf. Commenting on the clay's proceedings of the eonforonce. the special representative of tl»e Australian and Xow Zenland Press* Association states thai, except for tlie sensational opening day. to-day has bean the most interesting day of the conforer.ee. After M. Briaild's impassioned oratory, with Mr. Balfour's cordial undertaking on behalf of Britain to make the sacrifices of the Great War again should occasion call, and Mr. C. E. Hughes' more cautions assurance that the defenders of liberty and justice would never stand in moral isolation, the day merged into one of meetings. explications and expoundings, culminating in the evening in the issue of'the communique of the Far Kastern Committee. The resolutions of this committee were characterised by one im-

portant member of the British delegation as a long step forward toward a common policy. Several other delegates representing different Powers, including Japan, expressed satisfaction. The resolutions were unanimously adopted, nil the Powers except, of course, China, subscribing to them. Though they do not go beyond general principles, capable of varying interpretations, iliev lay down conditions which met t to some rxtent China's ten points, and Japan's declaration alike. It is noticeable that the memorandum docs aol refer to the Republic of China, or dcline what the word China as used throughout connotes. Tiiis gives rise to some speculation that Manchuria may be Inter subject to bargaining regarding Japan's claim to special rights therein.

SHANTUNG NEGOTIATIONB. It was admitted to-day that negotiations regarding Shantung are going on in Peking between the (iovernmcnts of Japan and China, but apparently the Chinese delegation would prefer thai, the ijuestion be settled it) Washington. They plead that public opinion is more favourable to that course, but a more probable reason is the fear of .lapan's dominating influence in the Chinese capital. Tim representatives of China explained that the split between the North and South Governments is not, wide, the only differences being matters of political principles. A successful i.-sue to the Washington Conference would help to unify China.

Another remarkable feature to-day was the evident anxiety of British representatives to explain exactly the position of the I'jmpirc toward the Japanese alliance. There has been » great amount of Press comment lately, not only in America, but also in British and European newspapers, tending to assume that, the alliance must be scrapped, which is the very evident American desire, unofficial perhaps, hut patent. Two British spokesmen to-day thought it necessary to emphasise the faot that the alliance ptill existed, and was regarded by Britf.'n as a mark of friendship toward a loyal and faithful ally.

Mr. Lloyd George's speech in the House of Commons on August 17, reviewing the work of the Imperial Conference, and remarks in the report of the ,same conference, were read to American pressmen. Stress was laid on Mr. Lloyd Oleorge"s famous chrase, "The British Empire must behave like gentlemen/ . At the same time, it was explained that the British attitude in the last few days has not shown any special movement. It was granted that several clauses of the alliance were obsolescent, the conditions that called tlvm forth having erased to exist, but that did not mean that the principle of friendship between Britain and Japan was obsolescent. That was as fresh and strong as ever. BOUNDARIES OF CHINA. The British spokesmen were careful to assure the interviewers that there was no question of the alliance being maintained provided that some better wav of insuring common accord in the Far East could be found.

Mr. 0. F. Pearee. the Australian delegate, reviewing to-day's proceedings on the Far Kasteni Committee, points out that the resolutions embody set principles. The committee can now take up specific cases and square their, with these principles, which become acid tests to be "applied to the questions raised in China's statement, such as extra territorial rights, concessions, and administrative control. Mr. Pearee is of opinion that the formulation and adoption of these resolutions may prove as important a step in Far Eastern affairs as did the American declaration at the opening session regarding naval disarmament.

The Australian and Xew Zealand Press Association understands that the first care of the Far Eastern Committee will bp the definition of what constitutes China. This has never been discussed. All requests to the delegates to give a lead have met with refusal and equivocation. Even China takes refuge in generalities, such as thr provinces represented by the five colours in the flag of the Republic.—/ * and X.Z. Special Representative.) - v __