Washington Conference.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 January 1922, Page 2

Washington Conference.

(From the Special Representative of the Australian Press Association.) FAR EASTERN QUESTIONS. WASHINGTON, Jan 15. Increasing signs of irritation in! conference circles are observable over the ___ protracted nature of the Shantung negotiations. Nobody believes China and Japan have really been engaged all this time in working out subsidiary details, a large number of which were previously on the pont of settlement. It i 9 assumed that bargaining is going on directly between Tokio and Peking. There is a possibility of the Japanese

halting progress until the Chinese New Year, in order to see whether the Chinese banks are able to meet all their commitments. Far Eastern cables indicate a severe financial upsetting of

China is imminent, necessitating the immediate flotation of a loan to tide over the difficulties. Already the effort to float such a loan internally has failed. Japan, herefore, may think it worth risking delaying the Conference, on the chance that she be called upon, to finance China, with a big loan, in which! the Shantung issue will be involved. Meanwhile, it cannot be said that the Chinese delegation here are acting accommodatingly. Wangs attitude to public statements are: not calculated to inspire Japan with a! spirit! of compromise, while unofficial Chinese organisations never cease attacking Japanese acts and motives; encouraged thereto by the declarations of a certain group of Senators, that the Shantum; question must be settled to the satisfaction of China, before any treaties flowing from the Conference can he ratified.

CHINESE CIVIL WAR,

PEKIN, January 16

Governor Wu Peifu, Instructor-Gene-ral of Hunan and Hupeh, has sent an ultimatum to the Pekin Government, giving the Cabinet of Liang Shi Yi three days in which to resign. Governor Peifu is moving troops north from 'Hupeh.

The Pekin Cabinet has replied, refusing to resign under any circumstances. NEW YORK, January 16.

The “New York World’s” Tokio correspondent states: The Japanese vernacular Press is printing special artides from Shanghai asserting that American and British interests are behind Wu Peifu’s antagonism to the Liang Ministry of Pekin. The paper “Nichi-Nichi” reports that the Anglo-Americans in China have determined to wipe out the Liang Government because of his alleged pro-Japanese views, and the same interests also plan to defeat Chang Tsolin, of Mukden, a war lord, for the ; same reason

The majority of the Japanese newspapers assume that a war between Chinese factions in the north is imminent.

SUN YAT SEN’S METHOD. NEW YORK, January 15. The “World’s” Tokio correspondent says: —lt is reported that Dr Sun Yat Sen, Southern Chinese leader, has now abandoned his campaign against Pekin for the present, believing that there is nothing to be gained by the South fighting the North, since the Northerners are going to fight among thebmselves, clearing the way later for a Southern victory. The Japanese s&y the present trouble teaches the Americans what the real state of affairs is in China.