Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-01
DENY DEADLOCK
IN ARMS PARLEY
Naval Ratio Conflict Won't
Break Down Conference, Says
British Spokesman
NEGOTIATE ON SHANTUNG
BY the Associated Press


Washington, Dec. 1.-"No confer.
ence Is deadlocked until all of the dele
gates have packed up their things and
gone home,' said the spokesman of the
British delegation today. commenting
on the situation which developed yes
terday in the failure of the naval OK
perts to reach an agreement on tonnage
ratio.
The spokesman explained that there
appeared TO be q misunderstanding as
to the procedure in such cases. As n
matter of fact, he said, only the Board
Of Naval Experts so far has acted upon
the question Of ratio. 1t is now with
the civilians, Secretary Hughes, Mr..
Balfour and Baron Kato. Even if they
should fail to agree, the subject, he
said, would then go to the five Powers,
and only in case of their failure would
locked.
II do not believe that this Confer.
ence is going to break down over q
ratio question of 10 per cent" he said
referring to Japan's request for Il ratio
OF 70 per cent as against the American
proposal of GO per cent.
While the situation resulting from
Japan,s request is regarded by AmCri-
can officials as delicate, they are not
without hope that Japan's sDokcsmcn
ENTIRELY removed from the stage Of
technical discussion as to the basis Of
calculating the naval ratios on present
heet strength, the question today
through the formal request of Baron
Admiral Kato, that the increased ratio
be recognized us necessary to Japan )
security, had become a matter OF policy
for settlement by the plenary delegates
OF the Powers and not by their tech
nical advisers.
The proposal on this ground, it was
known today, has been presented per-
sonally by Baron Kato to Secretary
Hughes and Arthur J. Balfour, head Of
the British delegation, with the full
support, it was said, Of the japanese
Government.
Hold Japan is Fully Protected
Regarding the argument of national
security, the American delegates and
experts, backed by the opinion of the
British delegates, hold that IFS logical
application would mean reduction
rather than nm increase in the naval
ratio proposed for japan, to which it is
known on authority they are as strongly
opposed on that basis as on the showing
of existing feet comparisons.
With the sub committee of experts OF
the "Big Three" naval Powers at for.
NAL disagreement upon adjourning yes-
terdrv as to the basis to be used for
these comparisons. it was considered
today that further progress could be
made only on discussion between the
American and japanese delegates.
Dividing attention with the naval sit
untion today was the first meeting Of
the representative of China and Japan.
xith Secretary Hughes and Arthur J.
Balfour, as respective heads of the
American and British groups, to lay II
basis for negotiations looking 10 set
tlement of the celebrated ShGntung con-
troversy.
Strong Stand by Chinese
The Chinese delegates announced,
after accepting the American and Brit.
$ ish offer of good offices" in the con-
troversy, that they were entering the
discussions prepared to accept nothing
less than unconditional withdrawal of
Japanese claims in Shantung. In tho
sence of any definite indication of at
tltude il was assumed that the Japanesc
epokesI\en would contend for the res
ervntinns insisted on in the recent din.
lomatic exchange between Toxic and
Pekin.
A report dealing with the advisability
Of the proposed ten year naval holiday,
with special reference TO TIE industrial
and economic questions involved, was
adopted yesterday bv the Advisory Com .
.mittee of the American delegation. 1t
will be presented to Secretary Hughes
today.
General Pershing, chairman of the
Sub committee on Land Armament,
presented u report in which the subiec,
of poison gases was discussed. Final
action on it was deferred until today.
along with the reports on use Of sub.