New-York tribune., 1921-06-22
Preliminary Agreements,
1t Is Explained, Must Be
Made Before an Open
Conference Can Open
Blame for Delay
Put Upon Jingoes
Harvey Has Instructions
to Feel Out Japanese in
London Now i'm Connec-
ton With British Treaty
Bv Carter Field

WASHINGTON, June 21.-Presi-
dent Harding will not call a disarm-
ament conference for Great Britain,
Japan and the United States in the
immediate future. There will be no
such call until there has been a thor
ough understanding and a very def
mite agreement made in secret be-
tween representatives Of the three
countries.
When such call is made, there
fore, it will be known that the terms
to be agreed upon are pretty we'll
cut and dried. Obviously, the sue
cess of the conference, when and if
called, will be assured in advance.
The Tribune correspondent is in a.
position to state fatty that this is
the view of President Harding at the
moment, and that therefore, despite
the obvious satisfaction which the
Administration has taken in the
statement by Premier Lloyd George
printed to-day, and in other indica-
tions that something may be worked
out with a view to saving the tre-
mendous armament taxation burden,
no immediate move will be made in
public.
Haryey's Instructions
No hos @hn
White House of the fact that Ambassa-
dor George Harvey was instructed, be-
fore leaving Washington, to take up
the question of disarmament 1t is
believed that Colonel Harvey also will
get in touch with the japanese through
the representatives of that country in
London, who are watching, the confer-
ence of the dominions and waiting for
direct discussions for the renewal of
the Anglo-Japanese alliance.
1t is understood also that the sub
ject has been quietly broached here in
the conferences on other subjects be-
tween Ambassador Shidehara and Sec
retary Hughes. Nothing, however, is
guarded more closely than the results
of these suggestions. The only thing
sure seems to be that no definite con
clusion has yet been reached, or is
clearly in sight.
The motives actuating President Har-
ding and his advisers in insisting upon
a secret agreement in advance of any
publicly called conference are thor
oughly appreciated and approved it is
understood, by the British and the Jap.
anese governments. 1t is the Presi-
dents belief that if such a public con-
ference were called, without the guar
anty of success in advance, very seri-
s--L.s
Peril of Publicity
1t is pointed out that if such con-
ference ended in disagreement, after ali
the publicity throughout the three
countries which the meeting Of the
conference would produce, and consid-
ering all the strong national feelings
which the jingoes could force to the
surface, there would be strong resent
ment. In Japan the jingoes would as
sert that it was the determination Of
American fire eaters to crush Japan
that had caused the conferees to dis
agree. They would say the Americans
were determined to build navy for
the sole purpose of crushing Japan.
about the yellow peril" and say that
it was the ultimate intention of Japan
to conquer the Pacific slope which pze-
vented that nation from yielding. The
same American jingoes would also
blame Britain and stir up all the feel
ing possible against that country.
This danger is believed by the Ad-
ministration to be so grave. especially
in view of other world conditions. that
to risk it would be folly.
1t is admitted that these dangers
would be greatly minimized if world
wide conference on disarmament were
called, but, on the other hand, it is
pointed out that the chances of
worldwide conference on disarmament
accomplishing anything would be ex-
tremely remote. National feeling
would run high and the pride of the
representatives of each nation would
heralded meeting.
France Is Going Slow
The Administration in considering the
question of disarmament, has thought
of it in terms of only three countries
the British Empire, Japan and the
United States. 1t regards Germany as
being out of consideration for NAVY
years to come so far as any armament
race is concerned. The same theory ap-
plies to Russia.
France has already, in making up Ler
naval budget, shown an entire willing
ness to trail behind. Her new aDpro-
priations, just made, make no provision
for capital ship construction whatever,
though she is strengthening her e
craft and submarine forces snbstaa-
TALLY.
Britain and Japan have gone far
ahead of this country, however, in a
very important arm OF naval warfare
the airplane carrier. Both nations are
building huge modern ships, capable of
a speed equal to that of the latest
battle-cruiser and of carrying a large
number of airplanes. The United States
Navy has only the Langley, which is so
slow as to be helpless for flight and
unable to keep up with feet for at
tack.
This new weapon. if an airplane car
rier could be called weapon, is ex-
pensive. Owing to the necessity for
speed she costs practically as much as
q superdreadnought or battle-cruiser.
Hence, even if those who think tho
capital ship is about to become obso-
lete are correct in their view, il does
not mean that it will no longer be
necessary to spend vast sums for naval
armament.