17 DECEMBER 1921, Page 2

After adopting the Pacific treaty, the Washington Conference approved of

the general principles laid down by Mr. Root for the maintenance of the integrity of China and for the guarantee- ing of " free and equal opportunity " to all Powers desirous of trading with China. It has been agreed this week that foreign post-offices in Chinese territory shall be closed after next year. It is rumoured that China and Japan are coming to terms in regard to Shantung, where China, it is proposed, shall buy the Japanese railway rights at a sum to be fixed by arbitration. The naval agreement is still under discussion. The ratio of 5-5-3 is to be maintained, it is said, but one or two more of the older ships are to be scrapped so that Japan may keep her new capital ship, the Mutsu.'