Evening star., 1921-11-16
Nations MOTIVES
STAND REVEALED
Enough Has Developed to De-
termine General Course
of Countries.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Governments do not usually snow
their hand early in an international
conference, but enough has developed
here already to determine what the
general course of the various nations
is to be. Now that. the public sessions
are temporarily at an end, it is i'm
portant to know the principles and
motives which are guiding the differ
ent powers in the secret committee
meetings, where, after all, the real
conclusions will be reached, for, as
Bernard Shaw once said, principles
are always easily settled, but it's :'the
details that cause divorces"
Here is an outline Of what the diff
ferent powers are aiming to do. as re-
vealed n private expressions Of their
delegates, as well as in public utter
ances: se=.s. -
First. Great Britain Is sincerely
trying to bring about a reduction In
the cost Of naval armament, and is
ready to agree in entirety to the
American proposal about scrapping
large battleships. but is sensitive
about the future development Of the
submarine and airplane.
Fenr Of Two Weapons.
If the truth were told, there is
good deal more fear. of those two
weapons of warfare than naval ex-
perts like to admit. Scrapping of
battleships is not difficult if the sub
marine and airplane are to be used
as instruments of offensive war. As
the discussions proceed these two
will grow in Importance. They are
the real "details" of the naval pro-
posals. The question of shipyards
for replacement and repairs will give
little difficulty. AS yet, nothing has
been said publicly about the Anglo
Japanese alliance. but the British
delegation knows the American view.
Great Britain appears ready to give
up the Anglo-Japanese alliance. but
will use it as a bargaining point to
gain from the United States either
an understanding about the funding
spect of naval matters. The proba-
bilities are that the British them
selves haven't decided the point. but
they do know the United States Is
eager to have the alliance abrogated
and, with characteristic diplomacy,
the British are waiting the oppor-
tune moment to obtain some "quid
pro quo"
Japan Sees Value.
Second. Japan is rather eager for
reduction of naval armament, but,
like Great Britain, she sees a value
lin the submarine. Japan's desire.
however, is to use the submarine and
to obtain permission to build cruis-
ing submarines big enough to oper-
ate at great distances from home.
This comedies with the wish of
American naval experts, too, who be-
lieye the offensive submarine is a
valuable arm for possible operations
in the Pacific. Great Britain has the
humanitarian argument, however, and
will emphasize 1t constantly, and
probably her view will prevail. for it
is easy to get public opinion aroused
even to the point, perhaps. Of abolish
ing submarines altogether because OF
the fact that their only practicable
use is by inhumane raids on surface
craft. Japan's real aim at this confer
ence is not naval armament, which seems
easy to adjust, but far eastern Affairs.
This means China. Japan has made
it plain that she is willing to go along
with the great powers in their desire
to lift the tax u burden, a nue ina! In T;na sne
baron Kato is represented as saying
he hoped the United States would not
unduE interfere" in China That's
the cruxi of the whole thing. Japan
wants a free hand in China or, failing
that. she hopes for as little limitation on
her pretensions as possible.
Italy watching U. 8.
Third. France is an onlooker In mat
ters of naval armament. But her part
is none the less influential Premier
BRAND has been maneuvering to draw
Italy to his side, but while the latter
is willing to give France support on
some points, the truth is Italy is
watching the United States and will
follow Secretary Hughes more than
Premier BRAND. France Is interested
not in reducing land armament, but In
pla cling emphatically before the world
her case against Germany on repara-
tions and national security. After
three years of speech-maktng the
French rslaize they have not made q
convincing impression upon other coun-
tries as to their need for q large stand
ing army. Premier BRAND is prepar-
ing a master stroke. He will soon Of
fer to give up the expense Of that 4rmy
If guarantees of national security are
given France and II the powers. IN
GLIDING the United States, will some
how underwrite the payment by Ger
leads to discussion informally Of
war debts as a whole, Great Britain
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