New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-16
Advises Toxic Nations
Involved Will Be Given
Opportunity to Discuss
Agenda Before Meeting
Program Will Not
Be Hard and Fast
Unified Approval of All
Participants To Be Aim;
Prompt Response Seen

From The Tribune's Washington Burcdn
WASHINGTON, July 15.-The
American government has met
Japan half way on the request Of the
TOXIC Foreign Office for additional
information as to the scope of the
discussions on Pacific and Far East
ern questions at the Forthcoming
conference of the powers in Wash
ington.
The United States has informed
the japanese government that ali
the nations involved will have ample
opportunity to engage in all informal
exchange of views on the agenda of
the conference either prior to the ac-
tual conclave in Washington or at
the outset Of the meeting.
1t is not the intention Of this gov
ernment to make any hard and fast
program to be followed in reaching
what is desired to be a solution of
the problems confronting the pow
ers, Japan has been advised, but, on
the contrary, the Japanese govern
ment as well as the other powers
may be assured that the fullest dis
cussion of the questions to come be-
fore the conference will be engaged
in and the. subjects to be taken up
will be those mutually agreed upon
between all interested parties.
Unified Approval Sought
The United States takes the view
that it is not for this nation to deter
mine the scope of the Far Eastern dis
cussion, but that this matter is one
that must necessarily be decided by the
participants. The concern of this gov
ernment is that all the powers give
their unqualified approval to meet in
the conference in an effort TO reach
an accord on the problems of the Far
East, so that the discussion of the
limitation OF armaments may proceed
with dispatch and not be embarrassed
with sources of irritation such as now
prevail in the Pacific.
The desire expressed by Japan for
knowledge of the extent to which Fat
Eastern questions would come before
she conference was officially described
to-day as most natural, and the Toxic
government was held to be entirely
within its rights in making the inquiry.
Surprise was expressed, however, that
any nations participation in the con-
ference was made contingent upon the
,ro1t t~,ai fnr lot 1f laGx -
program.
The prompt response from the gov
ernments of Great Britain, France, italy
and China was pointed to as indicating
the readiness of the powers to joinsin
the conference, the purpose of which, as
President Harding's invitation set
forth, is with view of reaching a
common understanding with respect TO
principles and policies" regarding the
Far East.
HOpefulness Is Felt
It would be difficult load for any
nation to take upon its shoulders TO
refuse to enter into a discussion Of
these subjects. Administration officials
believe, and the utmost hopefulness is
felt here that Japan's voice will be
added to that of the other powers In
the combined effort to eradicate fric-
tion between nations and take the step
toward world peace that is expected to
result from the conference.
Confident that Japan's qualified ae-
ceptance of yesterday will be followed
that wholehearted participation will bh
decided upon, American officials are ro-
ing ahead with the preliminary ar
rangements for the conciave. Fornfsi
invitations will be dispatched to the
powers within week or ten days bv
the President, who will suggest that
the conference begin the important
work before it in Washington on No
vember IL. Armistice Day. This tenta-
tive date has been fixed by this gov
ernment IN order that the powers rnay
have time to select their representa-
tives and participate in the inter4
changes OF views that may be held. on
the agenda of the conference.
+ 1t Is now thought that the conferences
cannot meet at an earlier date thar
November because of the difficuIfv fha
japanese and Chinese delegates may
nave In reaching this country. Time
is needed also by the various technical
experts Of the military and navaf
branches Of the various governments
to assemble the data that will be ,s.
quired for presentation at the con
ference.
The view still persists in Official
circles that the dual conference should
be confined to the five Allied and as
sociated powers, with China partieipasz
ing in the Far Eastern and Pacife dis
cussions. Some little embarras ssrne nj
may be occasioned by the determinx- !
ton of the principal powers to con-
fine the delegates at the conference to
the SIX governments named.
Would Clog Conference
It is the view of both PRESIDENT Har-
ding and Secretary Of State Hughes
that to extend the conference to Other
nations than those mentioned in Tire
Presidents original invitation would
work toward delays and clogging OF
| the conference machinery. There IL 4
! determination, however, among all the
powers that the decisions of the com
ference will be such that no nation need
! feel the slightest doubt that her inter-
ests will be jeepardized.
Repetition of reports from London
that preliminary conference be held
! there on the Far, Eastern Situation