U.S. GLOOM.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 March 1922, Page 4

U.S. GLOOM.

NEW YORK, January 15. American opinion reflects a state of complete bewilderment at the turn ecents have taken in Europe and are ; taking at Washington. 'Pile stauncliest partisans of France, confess to feelings of grave anxiety, over the -outlook. They regard with something approaching dismay the - u ew and dangerous pathways” which French policy seems about to follow., The gloom in which the prospects, of the economic rehabilitation of Europe arc enveloped a s a result of the French crisis has been deepened, if possible by the heavy fog in which the Washington Conference is labouring. Doubtless the fog will be lifted m the course of a day or two, but for the present the newspapers are filled with forebodings, owing to the exasperating delays caused by the inability of China and Japan to arrive at an agreement m regard to Shantung, and by the objections raised by Japan to the fortification clauses in the now almost oom. pleted draft of the Naval Treaty. In deference to wliat appears to be popular clamour at home, the Japanese delegates say they cannot consent to abandon' projects for the fortification of the'Bonin Islands, they say, are included in the prefecture of Tokio, ana ! therefore must be regarded as home ! lands of Japan. If the United States j i s to reserve the right to fortify Hawaii, Japan—their argument runs—cannot forego the right to fortify the Bonin Islands. Until this point is settled the Conference is unable finally to complete its i projected Naval Treaty, i CHINA CIVIL WAR THREAT. A still more serious difficulty is .being raised by the Chinese delegates. They are appealing to American public opinion to force Japan to discuss the treaties concluded on the basis of the

21 demands of 1915. In. the Senate sympathisers with China are numerous. If the Conference ends with Japan still clinging to her railway rights in Shantung, opposition in the Senate to ratification of the Four Power Treaty and of the Naval Treaty is sure to grow to formidable proportions. Prospects «f a. satisfactory agreement on Oiniiose problems are further darkened for the moment by a threatened civil war in China. According to the latest advices from the Chinese

Republic, General Wu Pei-fu, chief military leader in Central China, has issued an ultimatum demanding the resignation within seven days of the

Premier whom Chang Tso-ding, the former brigand, n*w Governor-General of Manchuria, recently put in office at Peking. The Premier refuses to retire, and the Chinese at Washington declare that civil war oil a large scam as imminent.