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Show NEWS REVIEW OF CURRENT EVENTS Settlement of Shantung Controversy Contro-versy Announced to the Arms Conference. NAVAL TREATY IS APPROVED Agreements on Poison Gas, Submarines Subma-rines and Chinese Questions Also Indorsed Senate Passes Foreign Debt Refunding Bill Senator Kenyon Is Made Federal Circuit Judge. By EDWARD W. PICKARD SECRETARY of State Hughes and Arthur J. Balfour accomplished a great feat of real diplomacy last week when they succeeded in persuading China and Japan to accept the compromise compro-mise arrangement by which the longstanding long-standing and troublesome Shantung controversy is brought to an end. The settlement was announced on Wednesday Wednes-day to the fifth plenary session of the conference, and both the statesmen voiced t,heir personal rejoicing over it because it was their own plan. Mr. Balfour Bal-four went further and told something that aroused the conferees to cheers. He said that Great Britain had decided decid-ed to enter at once into negotiations for the restoration to China of the territory ter-ritory of Wei-Hai-Wei, which it has held under lease since the time when Russia seized Port Arthur. Thus O-hina will get back sovereignty over her most ancient and most thickly-populated province in its entirety. In ail major details the agreement between Jupan and China is as was told In these columns a week ago. Japan it to get out of Tsingtao and the salt fields within six months, and is to give up the Tsingtao-Tsinanfu railway within with-in nine months. The one discordant note in Washington Washing-ton was sounded by Ma Soo, representative represent-ative of the Canton government. He asserted the Chinese people would not recognize the treaty agreed upon in the conference. Mr. Hughes presented to the conference con-ference the completed draft of the naval limitation treaty with the agreement agree-ment on Pacific fortifications, and it was formally adopted. No material change in the treaty as already detailed de-tailed had been made, and the Pacific agreement also stands In the main as formerly described. According to the fortifications clause the status quo must be maintained by America in the Philippine and Aleutian islands; by Great Britain in Hongkong and the Pacific Islands east of 110 degrees east longitude; by Japan in the Kurlle, Bonln and Loochoo islands, Amami-Oshlma, Amami-Oshlma, Formosa and the Pescadores. In presenting the five-power naval pact, Mr. Hughes said : "This treaty absolutely ends the race In competition of naval armaments. At the same time it leaves the security secur-ity of nations unimpaired. It is significant signif-icant of far more also, because here we are talking of arms- in the language of peace and have taken the greatest forward step to establish the reign of peace." Albert Sarraut, head of the French delegation, took the opportunity again to correct misapprehensions concerning concern-ing his country's naval policy. He said France had appealed for only what she must have to defend herself, her-self, and added : "The camouflaged ghost of imperialistic France which German propaganda parades about the tinlveise may still deceive a few artless art-less minds, but It will soon evoke nothing noth-ing but smiles." Elihu Hoot presented for approval the five power treaty outlawing poison gas and the use of the submarine against merchant shipping. He explained ex-plained that It does not undertake to codify international law In regard to visit and search, but to state the most Important provisions which already are a part of the law of nations. "It does undertake," said Mr. Root, "to stop the violation of these rules and the doing to death of women and children and other noncomhatants hy declarlng the wanton destruction of merchant vessels carrying passengers to be n violation of the laws of war and an act of piracy. This treaty will be supported by the greatest power known to history. It crystallizes in simple and concrete terms the opinion of the civilized world that already exists ex-ists in order that hereafter no nation shall dare to do what was done when tlie women and children of the Lusl-tania Lusl-tania went to their death by wanton murder on the high seas." In completing a wonderful day's work, the conference gave its approval to resolutions relating to China, to be embodied in treaties, including declaration decla-ration of the open door, publication of existing treaties, agreements and commitments with China, radio establishments estab-lishments In China, Chinese railways, withdrawal of foreign postoffices, withdrawal with-drawal of foreign, troops from Chinese Chi-nese territory, and reduction of Chinese Chi-nese military forces in the interest of economy and internal tranquillity. These treaties, not yet drafted, are to lie reported to the next plenary session ses-sion of the conference, which probably prob-ably will be its last. The question of reducing their land forces by one-half was presented to the governments of two nations. By one it was rejected, and the same action ac-tion is expected In the other case. To the central executive committee of the Russian soviet government, Lenin proposed that the Russian army be cut in half, with a view to meeting the wishes of the United States. Leon Trotzky spoke in opposition and the committee rejected the plan. In the Japanese diet the Kokuminto party brought forward the same proposition. proposi-tion. The war office opposed it, having hav-ing a plan of its own which contemplates contem-plates reductions in personnel and the strengthening of armaments and equipment. equip-ment. The minister of war says the idea of halving the army is preposterous prepos-terous in view of , the fact that the Russian army Is still a million strong and can be transported easily with the restoration of the Trans-Siberian railway. It was considered that political reasons, would prevent the adoption of the Kokuminto resolution. resolu-tion. WITH the exception of the United States all the nations asked to participate par-ticipate In the Genoa conference In March have accepted the Invitation. The French government has announced that it will be represented, because it feels itself bound by the action of former Premier Briand at the Cannes meeting of the supreme council. coun-cil. Premier Polncare is devoting much attention to the German reparations repara-tions problem and has asked the other allied governments to state their views as to the procedure that should be adopted In regard to the latest proposals pro-posals made by Germany. He Intimates Inti-mates that France prefers to leave the whole matter in the hands of the reparations commission, as the treaty of Versailles provides. Lenin has sent word to Italy that he personally will head the Russian delegation In Genoa. THE senate of the United States passed the bill for refunding the foreign for-eign debt Into securities maturing In not more than 25 years. The vote was 39 to 25, three Republicans Borah. La Follette and Norrls joining join-ing the Democratic opposition. The measure Is virtually as the Administration Administra-tion recommended, though it was said President Harding didn't like some of Its provisions. Senator Simmons of North Carolina offered an amendment amend-ment providing for the use of the Interest In-terest on the allied loans to pay a soldiers' bonus, and Senator Jones of New Mexico offered another providing for the payment of the horns directly out of the treasury. Both were defeated. de-feated. Senator McCuniber stating a bill was now being prepared that would give adjusted compensation to the former service men. Senator Borah denounced the bill as scheme whose ultimate purpose was the cancellation can-cellation of the entire foreign debt. PRESIDENT Harding and Senator Kenyon together furnished the country coun-try with n great surprise Jast week. TJ.e President nominated the Iowa statesman to be judge of the United States Circuit court. Eighth circuit, and Mr. Kenyon at once announced Ids nc-ceptance. nc-ceptance. The senate was astonished but did not hestitate to confirm the nomination. Democratic leaders expressed ex-pressed the belief that the l'res'dc.i of one of the chiefs of the agricul tural bloc. Mr. Kenyon himself Issued this statement : "Tlie President has known since our service together in the senate that political po-litical life did not appeal to me and that my ambition was to serve on the federal bench. I am deeply appreciative appreci-ative of the act of the President in appointing me to this position." In Washington it was believed Representative Rep-resentative Burton Sweet of Iowa would succeed Kenyon in the senate. An announced candidate for the place is H. O. Weaver, Iowa lawyer and farmer, president of the American Shorthorn Breeders' association and of the Iowa Agricultural society. NEARLY one hundred persons perished per-ished when the roof of the Knickerbocker Knicker-bocker movie theater in Washington collapsed under the weight of a heavy snowfall. Nearly all the victims were killed instantly, but one, and perhaps the most prominent, survived several days. This was Edward H. Shaugh-nessy Shaugh-nessy of Chicago, second assistant postmaster general. The bouse District Dis-trict of Columbia committee has under un-der consideration a plan to purchase the site of the theater and transform it into a park in which shall be erected a memorial to those who lost their lives in the disaster. This terrible accident in the Capital marked the worst storm that the Atlantic At-lantic coast states have experienced In many years. Deep snow, high gales and severe cold almost paralyzed many cities and greatly hampered railway transportation. IT is probable that before this Is In the hands of the reader the successor suc-cessor to Pope Benedict XV will ha,ve been chosen. The sacred college began be-gan its conclave in the Vatican on Thursday with 52 cardinals present. Several others were on their way there. In accordance with ancient custom, cus-tom, the cardinals were cut off from communication with the outside world until their task should be completed, and the only sign of their doings was the periodical smoke wreath from the chimney of the Sistlne chapel when each secret ballot was burned. Before Be-fore the voting began both the Italian and French governments had denied having any favorite candidate. It was thought the successful cardinal would be one who would moderately continue con-tinue the policies of Benedict, and many believed Gasparri had the best chance. BECAUSE the Italian government saw fit to recognize the death of the late pope the opposition element were enabled to get together, and on Thursday Thurs-day Premier Bonoml and his cabinet announced theb- resignation. They had retained the support of only the Catholic party and a small group of reform Socialists. SECRETARY of War Weeks submitted submit-ted to congress Henry Ford's offer for the government projects at Mus-le Shoals, Ala., "for such action as congress con-gress may deem appropriate." Mr. Weeks did not ndvlse either acceptance accept-ance or rejection, but he said If thfe proposal were accepted "the government govern-ment must make new appropriations amounting to ?4O,0O0,(XX) to $50,000.-000, $50,000.-000, of which Mr. Ford will have the henefit for approximately 100 years at 4 per cent." In the event the offer be rejected, the secretary gave It as his "opinion that dam No. 2 (Wilson dam) should be completed by the government and that the power requirements for commercial com-mercial purposes, the benefits to navigation, navi-gation, as well as the possible needs of the government would warrant this expenditure." COAL operators Inst week declared there must be a radical reduction In the wage scale, which expires March HI. Mine union and railroad union leaders laid plans for co-operative action ac-tion to prevent a lowering of miners' wages. Consequently a strike seems Inevitable, and the national government, govern-ment, through Attorney General Dougherty, began planning to meet the crisis. What steps Mr. Dougherty contemplates is not known, but In discussing dis-cussing the matter he pledged support o! unions as long as they are lawfully conducted, hut questioned their right to Impose the closed-shop principle. An Important feature of the contro-prsy contro-prsy is the proposal of the operators to abolish the check-off system, under which union dues are deducted frorO 1 miners' pay. |