FAR EAST QUESTION.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 December 1921, Page 8

FAR EAST QUESTION.

POSSESSIONS” PRESIDENT HARDING’S DEFINITION. By Telegraph.-—Press Assn. —Copyright. Washington, Dec. 21. When the President was responding to Press inquiries to-day he expressed the opinion that the homeland of Japan did not come within the wards “insular possessions” and “has no objection to party agreement”. This expression has been emphasised. There is a division between the President and the delegation. The President announced to-night that the difference in view would be in no wise permitteckto embarrass the Conference or the ratification of the agreement. He assumed all along that the spirit of the Conference contemplated confidence which pledges respect to territory in every way which tends to promote lasting peace. He had learned from the United States delegates that they had agreed to a construction which includes the homeland of Japan in the terms “insular possessions” and “has no objection to party agreement”. JAPANESE VIEW OF CONFERENCE. New York, Dec. 21. Mr. Tokugawa, in a speech, said that the opposition in Japan W) the accomplishments of the Washington Conference was negligible. “You will find,” he said, “Japan playing her part in peace, so long as she need not fear assault on her own independence or dangerous aggression to the security of China, which is vital to her.

“Critics of the Four-Power Treaty seem trying to read into its very plain terms some moral pledge binding the nations to to go war, but that interpretation is farfetched. The treaty is a moral pledge that the four Powers will consult one another in a friendly manner, and maintain general peace in the Pacific. It goes without saying that if the Conference occurred in any other capital but Washington things would not have gone so fast or so far. You Americans are certainly speedy, but we Japanese have no intention of letting you leave us behind.”

After recounting the accomplishments of the Conference, Mr. Tokugawa added: “We have all but concluded an agreement between China and Japan on the Shantung question. An agreement would not be possible if Japan’s spirit had not been in the fullest accord with those of other nations. It shows how unfair was the charge that Japan is permeated by the militaristic spirit.” SHANTUNG CONVERSATIONS. AWAITING FRESH INSTRUCTIONS. Washington, Dec. 21. Although the Chinese and Japanese conversations on Shantung ended to-night without any provision for continuance, it is denied that an impasse has been reached. The indications are that the sittings will be resumed next week, when both delegations have received fresh instructions from their Governments. The Chinese, naturally, are not sure what the new Cabinet’s attitude will be, while the Japanese ' declare they have already gone beyond their Tokio instructions. The Japanese say that there is no hitch in view which might lead to a rupture. The Chinese are pessimistic, while the Americans are hopeful of a succsesful issue. CHINESE CRISIS FACTOR. Washington, Dec. 22. The special representative of the Australian Press Association states that, though the Ministerial crisis in China is not without reflex in Asiatic circles here, the Chinese delegation puts a bold face on the matter, declaring that it has the full support of the Chinese people. Of the six present factions in China the chief is that Fingtien, at Mukden, headed by General Chang Tso Lin, who is now in Pekin endeavoring to organise a Cabinet > suit his policy, despite the opposition of General

Tsao Kun, of the Chili faction. Chang, whom his opponents describe as a dictator, is endeavoring to join hands with the Canton faction, under Sun Yat, Sen, who is agreeable to their overtures in the hope of stabilising the position, but the anti-Chang asserts that Chang’s ultimate aim will be to dominate Sun Yat Sen, after eliminating the Chili faction, thus securing entire control of the situation. Apart from these issues there is little doubt that financial embarrassment is the main cause of the Cabinet’s downfall. JAPANESE OPPOSITION. Tokio, Dec. 21. The Opposition Party held a meeting, at which was outlined the opposition which will be offered against the Four-Power Treaty. One leader asked whether the Occidental Powers do not contemplate using the treaty as a wedge into Far Eastern affairs. Other speakers criticised the Govern ment’s lack of insight into the Washington Conference, as'constituting a menace to Japan’s special position in the Far East.