Washington Conference.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 February 1922, Page 3

Washington Conference.

(From the Special Representative of tl Australian Press Association.) iso —— r- THE PLENARY SESSION, ta WASHINGTON, Feb L •d At the Plenary Sessiori Shidehara atu ig) Sze thanked Messrs Hughes arid Bal e, four for their services in leading io i i settleirieiit: In The Cohfereiice adopted it resolutior n lioping that China Will rediicf: ii&i : iii- % ternal military forces,. grid favouring s the publication- of secret. ivpaties. i. 1 Mr Balfour announced that as a rey suit of the Shantung settlement, Great i Britain will return Weihawai to China. In introducing the Naval Treaty Mr ■ Hughes declared that while there were I certain changes of detail, the plan f America proposed has been preserved, . as has also the spirit in which the pro- - posals were made. The, Plenary Session formally adopted l the Naval Treaty, Submarine and the Poison Gas Treaty.. Mr Root in a speech described the latter as a Treaty which stigmatizes the doing to death of women and children and in answering the charges that the rules may he violated under stress of war, he pointed out that the power of public ppinlon wilt punish such With terrible consequences. The Conference then adjourlied, hav- 1 ing been in session for 210- minutes. I The Far Eastern Committee meets to I day ,and possibly will consider the . twenty-one demands, a fid Siberian * ■which is the only importniit re- ! mairiirig subjects. FURTHER PROGRESS. Washington, Fci>. i. The Fifth Pletiary Seksioli Of tlih Cofi- ! fereiice opened with the adoption of a | 'resolution affecting Clinih, providing for tiie abolition of the Foreign Post > appoiiitmeiit of a cbuiicil to piive fi way for the removal of foreign troop 3, prohibition of the special privileges to any Power, or discriininaton regarding railways. j Mr Hughes then aririouriced the settle- : merit of the- Sbafituiig controversy, by reading the written Japanese-Chineso - agreement under which Japan returns Shantung, railway to Kiaochow and various properties, and agrees to reriiove her troops as sooii as the Chinese are 1 able to take over, which must be with- 1 in six months. For the railway, China pays 53,500,000 gold marks plus ini- J provement charges. Payment is spread ( over a 'period of 8 to 15 years, but redemption of the privlege is for five years: 1 Mr Hughes declared this Treaty absolutely ended the nice in coriipetitive naval armariients. lil. Snrrut, addressing himself directly to the American nation, appealed to n ue worid not to believe France binlered the work on the Naval Treaty.

railways. Mr Hughes then announced the settlement of the Shafttutig controversy, by reading the written Japanese-Chineso agreement under which Japan returns Shantung, railway to Kiaochow and various properties, and agrees to remove her troops as soon as the Chinese are able to take over, which must be within six months. For the railway, China pays 53,500,000 gold marks plus improvement charges. Payment is spread over a 'period of 8 to 15 years, but redemption of the priviege is for five years: Mr Hughes declared tins Treaty absolutely ended the race in competitive naval armaments. M. Sarrut, addressing himself directly to the American nation, appealed to t.ie world not to believe France hindered the work on the Naval Treaty.