The New York herald., 1921-11-17
WAITING FORTOKIO
Japan Likely to Accept
Pekin Suggestions
as Basis for
Agreement. !.
MAY OFFER OPEN DOOR
Washington Agog Over
Discussion of French
Aim as to Army.
BRITISH OBJECTION SEEN
Beatty Believed to See Peril
in Full Adherence to Sec'y
Hughes's Proposal. {
BRITISH OBJECTION SEEN
BY LOUIS SEIBOLD.

BY LOUIS SEIBOLD.
Special Despatch TO THE NEw YORK HEaALA
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. G., Nov. 16. !
Developments in the arms confer
ence to-day were confined to the first
move on the part Of the representa-
tives of the Pekin Government in
opening up the discussion of Far
Eastern problems, and the comforting
Of the technical experts of the diff
ferent nations on matters Of naval
limitations.
There was no public session of the
conference itself and probably will
be none this week, during which time
the committees dealing with the two
most important phases of the con-
ference agenda will be engaged in
providing material for public discus
sion. There was great deal OF
activity and relentless torrent OF
discussion, speculation and contro-
versy among the partisans and pro,
pagandists of some of the European
nations, but it was all more enter
tanning than substantial. In these
discussions the representatives OF
the United States had neither hand
nor voice.
To some extent the conditions sug-
gested the early stage of the Paris
peace conference, when the conflict
ing interests Of European nations
precipitated a protracted period Of
trading, intrigue, national jealousies
and personal animosities.
ChIna's Ten Principles.
The Washington conference has
not progressed far enough to develop
the exact location and extent of the
features which made Paris the the.
atre for all sorts of secret plottings
and backstairs gossip. though many
an ancient grievance probably seetbes
beneath the tranquil setting which
the American Government has pro-
vided.
/ The officials of the United States
are not particularly concerned over
the activities and disputes among
/ national partisans of the European
| countries. and the tireless physical
and verbal energies of trained props-
gandists, and there is little likell
| hood OF their taking more than a
casual interest beyond striving to
promote as much amity between the
rival groups as circumstances will
permit
or the three phases that engaged
| the serious attention of conferees
sent by Great Britain. France, Italy.
Belgium, Holland. Japan, Portugal
| and China TO assist in the correction
, OF international evils the chief inter-
est to-day centred around the Far
Eastern problem.
The only decisive move made was
the organization of the committee
representing the nine nations par
ticipating in the conference. The
representatives OF the Pekin Govern.
ment OF China seized upon II to bring
forward a plan embracing ten ger.
eral principles covering the most i'm.
portant Of her grievances. The
spokesman for japan on the com
mittee on Far Eastern affairs ap-
peared to be neither surprised nor
resentful of the rather elastic char.
acter of the PelSin proposals.
Toxic IL In Accord.
The fact is that the Chimes, state.
ment of its aims appeared Co ne
wholly acceptable, in principle TO tho
japanese, probably because OF the
generous character of the aims and
the lack OF suggestions regarding the
actual application of them as tho
basis for substantial achievement. To
what extent the Chinese proposal diff
fers from that which the Japanese
delegates will later bring forward Is
problematic.
The announcement is made to.nighs
that Ambassador Shidehara will to-
morrow express the satisfaction OF
his Government with the general
terms of the Pekin suggestions. and
may indicate readiness TO have theiu