WASHINGTON ACHIEVEMENTS,

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16635, 18 January 1922, Page 2

WASHINGTON ACHIEVEMENTS,

A LONG LIST. By Telegraph—Press Association—CopyrightAustralian and N.Z. Cable Association. NEW YORK. January 16. Mr Coolidge. in a speech at Philadelphia . said that the list, of positive achievements .of the Washington Conference had been steadily increasing and included limitation of capita! ships under the Four Power pact, declaration against the use, of submarines as commerce destroyers, proscribing of use of poison gas, limitation of the site and armaments of auxiliary craft, settlement of the Yap question and conflicting questions regarding mandated islands north of the Equator and agreement to respect the - sovereignty o■ China and her tariff, and there was a prospect of settlement of the conflicting claims of China and Japan regarding Shantung- ' THE FAR EAST. COMMITTEE SUMMONED. FORTIFICATIONS IN PAOIFIC. From Special Representative Australian Press Association. WASHINGTON. January 16. After the call to the Naval Committee was issued last night plans were changed in favour of a meeting of the Far Eastern Oommittee. There has been much speculation regarding the reason for the change, which was stimulated by advices from Japan to the effect that the metropolitan Press there is keeiilv opposing the agreement in regard to not fortifying the Bonin Islands, which are held to be part of the Japanese mainland, far more than Hawaii is part of the United States. Japanese quarters hpa-r that the matter is being made v a subject of home politics, opposition growing against the action of the delegation in acceding too far to the wishes of the United States and Britain on the question ©i fortifications, especially on the question of the exemption of the South Pacific below' the Jfiiquator. There is no further light showing on the naval treaty, except that the American spokesman indicated that notes still ar© being exchanged between the Governments. He explained that the resumption of the meeting of the Far Eastern Committee was due to a desire, to make the most progress possible, without interfering with the . Shantung conversations. Customs re- ■ solutions and the open door question occupied attention. The twenty-one do mands were not touched, except to decide not to refer to them until the Shantung matter has been settled, because much of the former relates to the f latter.

Mr Hughes, in regard to the open door enunciated the United States attitude, amplifying Mr Hay’s definition to the effect that the United States Government would never associate it~ 6elf with any arrangement seeking to establish special rights and privileges in China, which would abridge the rights Of subjects or citizens of other friendly States. It was the purpose of the Government to neither participate nor acquiesce in any such arrangement, in respect to economic or commercial matters. It believed that much diplomacy will be required to bring the Chinese delegation to assent to postponement of consideration of the twenty-one demands, which they hoped to discuss while Shantung matters still were in abeyance, thus playing one against the other. The new development means the probable speeding up of the Shantung question.

It is rumoured that the Japanese reply to the Chinese presentment of the twenty-one demands w ill be that, if any nation considers the operation thereof infringes its rights Japan will disoußa the question with that nation. This, will be in line with the United States protest, which was sent to Japan and China simultaneously when the demands first were agreed to, and will make it difficult to do anything in Manchuria, in whicli Japan does not want to be disturbed. While the Far Eastern Committee was considering the Chinese tariff Senator King introduced a motion in the Senate declaring that any attempt to dictate to China Customs duties and interior* levies would he a. contravention of the settled poliev of the United States, and there was no warrant for interference in the sovereign rights of the Chinese Government. Senator King is supporter of the League of Nations, and a close political friend of Mr Wilson, who is evincing renewed championing of the League, circumstances giving the action some significance. JAPANESE DECISION. TOKIO, January 16, 'ilie Japanese diplomatic council approved Cabinet’s decision to insist firmly that ifte Bonin and I/uchu Is land groups fiball he included in the Japanese mainland group, when the question of limiting Pacific Island fortifications is settled at 'Washington. CHINESE CUSTOMS* WASHINGTON, January 16. A communique states that the Far Eastern Committee announced the passing oi the Customs resolutions an

amended by the drafting committee. It wag resolved that the Government of the United States should be requested to communicate forthwith the terms of the agreement arrived at in regard to the tariff to governments of Power® not represented at the conference, who participated in the agreement of 1919 and invite them to adhere to this convention. SHANTUNG. WASHINGTON, January 16 The Chinese and Japanese conversations regarding Shantung have reached an understanding regarding the transfer of administration of the former leased territory of Kiaochow, The question of mines vae ducusaed. The meeting adjourned.