AT WASHINGTON.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 January 1922, Page 5

AT WASHINGTON.

PROBLEM OF SHANTUNG. FAR EAST QUESTIONS. AFFAIRS OF CHINA. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Jan. 4, 53 p.m. Washington, Jan. 3. The American spokesman to-day said there was still a most hopeful prospect of the Shantung dispute being settled without intervention from outside, though the Chinese' delegation are still asserting that they cannot make further concessions. Mr. Sze (China) told the Press that the Chinese are waiting impatiently to resume, and the Japanese say they have asked Tokio for instructions. They have received some, but are requiring more, and are still corresponding with their Government. Admiral Kato (Japan) denies that any direct negotiations are going on between China and Japan at Peking, and characterises as absolutely false everything published by the Chita representatives, including the new statement issued to-day that a secret treaty has been made between certain Japanese officer* and generals connected with Seminoff, whereby Japan was to arm and finance the Russians against the forces □f the Chita Republic. The present Japanese Cabinet haa never financed any Russian groups whatever. Admiral Kato was very emphatic in his denials, and says he must have known if anything of the kind was going on. It was impossible to conceive anything like it happening. It was the Japanese policy to withdraw troops from Siberia, after which questions of the administration of the country would become matters of Siberian domestic policy. The troops will be withdrawn whenever Japan receives a guarantee that the Bolshevik troops do not intend to invade Manchuria or Korea. Apparently negotiations to that end are now going cn. Japan may not ask for a guarantee of the safety of her nationals’ lives and property if she thinks it unnecessary to do so. Ad

miral Kato would not discuss Saghalien, which, he said, was in a different category. It is understood the British acquiesced in China getting a higher tariff, but France is still standing out. Mr. Hughes replied to M. Sarraut that he was gratified to find the French Government formally denies having come to any agreement or carried on anv negotiations concerning the status of* Siberia. Mr. Hughes says he was glad to accept the statement that the documents were not authentic. The State Department denies there are any documents on the file confirming the Chinese statements and no official information in any sort of way confirming the story. There was certain activity to-day m Chinese-Japanese circles, and while it is probably technically inacmflrate to jay Mr. Hughes and Mr. Balfours good offices were again invoked in the Shantung matter, there in little doubt that British and American observers are endeavoring to bring the two nations together again.—Special to Australian Press Assn. Washington. Jan. 3. One explanation of the Japanese delay in completing the Shantung settlement is offered to the effect that their Government has been trying to re-open negotiations with Peking following on ihe change ot Government there. It is suggested that the Japanese are preparing a statement pointing out that neither the Chinese nor the Siberian Government is sufficiently stable for ordinary arrangements to be made with them. , , K , There will be no opposition on be halt ot Great Britain to the United State* and Japan clearing up any ambiguities in the Four Power Pact, should they wish to do Paris, Jan. 3. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a statement formally denying the alleged Franco-Japanese agreement regarding Siberia.