Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-24
ALSO ELIMINATES JAPAN
Two Powers Accused of Deadlocking
international Agreement.
ENGLAND's CHANGE OF FRONT
Departure From Historic Principles
Surprises American and Japanese
Delegates to London Convention.

LONDON, January 23.-It has been sug
gested by the continental delegation. II
view Of the inability of the internationa
naval conference, as at present consti
tuted, to agree on some of the most vita
questions, that an effort be made to draw
up a code of naval warfare for the grea,
powers exclusive of America. on whom
the continental delegates place the blame
for the deadlock which has been reached
Thus far there has been no formal dis
cussion of this suggestion, but 1t ha!
been the subject of general conversation
among the delegates. some or whom pro
fess to consider it practical Others
however see in il many difficulties. the
greatest of which is the attitude Japar
would take toward it. The Japanese. like
the Americans. continue to hold to theil
original opinion on questions such as
continuous voyage and on the defini
tion of contraband and those best in
formed say that if America is elimi
mated from the conference Japan will
follow her.
Some Hope of Agreement.
The possibility of the conference again
reaching a working basis was said by
one of the delegates to be little better
today, but 1t still was not bright enough
to say that 1t was probable. The dele
gates continue to busy themselves with
technical subjects while awaiting the call
or England for another plenary session
which, until the present crisis arose. was
held three times week. It was thought
that the next plenary session might be
convened next Monday. but up to the
present the arrangements for Monday
consist of two committee meetings SINH.
lar to those held Friday.
Thus, while the crisis continues work
which will be useful if the conference
goes on is being done by those optimis-
tic ones who are still hopeful and who
London of Sir Edward Grey Monday
With the head of the foreign office on
the spot to see for himself how danger
ously near to a complete wreck Is the
conference which he called some dele
gates believe. that a further determined
effort will be made to pull the gather
ing together.
England Deserts Old Principles.
The task of the foreign secretary. how
ever. Is most difficult. America, SO far
as can be learned. has announced that
oi4C i1oo ICdSHco THE lllIllt OF COnCeS-
sion granting and that any overtures
must come from the other side. Japan
is standing solidly beside America. Both
of them are considerably surprised at
the departures England is making from
her historic principles-principles on
which these three powers were practi-
caliy agreed before going into the con-
ference. and which were under frequent
discussion by the American. japanese
and English delegates before the repre-
sentatives of the other powers reached
London.
Rear Admiral Charles H. Stockton and
Prof George Grafton Wilson of Brown
University. the American delegates to
the conference. have not divulged what
II any, instructions they have received
and they appear to be waiting for the
reassembling of the conference to see
what those differing from them have to
offer. If any reasonable concessions come
from the other side it Is possible. al
though the delegates will not say so,
that America has something which she
considers not vital to suggest in re-
turn.