The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-11-04
J. 5. ID PROPOSE
 SWEEPING NAVAL
 ARMS REDUCTION
Plans to Be So Earl ,spM ! That Other Po' sssS ' fGayI Be Unable %Gcept
 Them, Is Belief
By Associated Press

By Associated Press
 Washington, November 3.-The policies and programme of the American delegation to the arma- ments conference are beginning to assume definite outline, and if the expectations of official Washington come true the opening days of the conference will see sequence of developments something like this:
 Presentation mt the outset of
 concrete American plan for far-
 reaching reduction of naval nr-
 mament.
 Consideration along with this
 pInn of such troublesome prob
 lems of the far east Rs may nat
 uraIIy project themselves into
 the picture.
 Salient features of the American naval armaments proposal already have been established and although details remain to be fixed, there Is reason to believe the reductions sug- gested will be sweeping enough to convince the whole world that the United States meant business when fl called the powers into conference.
 It would cause no surprise if
 the leading naval powers found it
 necessary to submit the plan of
 this government to long and
 careful study before they de-
 termine on their course of action.
 Should the reductions proposed
 prove unacceptable, it is believed
 -aIx I.In
 gates. having once taken the ini-
 tiatiye, would invite the other
 powers to present in their turn
 some concrete counter proposal.
 All the evidences surrounding the conferences of the American big four with their naval advisors have point ed to inclusion of a set of maximum reduction figures in the plan to be laid on the table by this govern ment No official has been willing to reveal any details of these fig ures but there has been apparent a desire to lay bare at the very outset of the negotiations of the full ex- tent to which the United States would be willing to go in scaling down the worlds naval armament.
 May Hold Opposite View
 The impression that such a method may not lead to an immediate agree ment has been given color by the ap- parent intention of some of the other powers to pursue a directly opposite course by setting a high figure as the measure of the naval armament they consider requisite to their national safety. Japan already has indicated that she would suggest the necessity of maintaining a navy equal to any which might enter her sphere in the far east; q proportion which naval experts say is well in excess Of her present power.
 The naval armaments question is considered certain to be the first to occupy the active attention of the conference but 1t Is not the expecta. tion of officials here that the live problems of far eastern diplomacy will remain long In the background As the conference Is viewed in pros pect 1t is believed here that the dip- lomatic and armament angles of the situation may develop simultaneous ly, so that instead of having a fixed programme of consecutive subjects the delegates will fall into the prac. tice of considering this or that prob. lem as occasion may bring it to the front
 It is conceivable among American officials that some of the far eastern problems may be brought sharply Into issue as soon as replies are made to the initial proposal of this government for naval reductions. Naturally the others powers will de. sire to set forth their reasons for the attitude they take on this proposal and in the consideration of these req sons the conference may swing en- tirely away from the question of ar mament for the moment and address itself directly to the causes for ar. mament
 Favor Open Sessions
 The determination of the American government that these exchanges shall be kept as far as possible from the realms of underground diplomacy was reiterated today in highest ad- ministration quarters. Officials sa their plans for giving publicity to the progress of the conference are so complete as to assure to the press the fullest information consistent with public policy and give public opinion ample opportunity to play an intel hgent part in shaping the decisions of the settlements.
 NSStt ttdiS Hughes, cHdlrman and spokesman. Is expected to hold con- ference with newspaper correspond ents and in addition it Is expected fre- quent statements may be issued, tell ing the story of the developments in such of the sessions as are not open to the press and to the public. Tn. impression was given today. however that larger part of the real business of the conference than generally had been expected would be transacted with open doors
 The American delegation held no meeting today but Secretary Hughes and other high officials spent much of the day receiving official calls from the foreign delegates who are on the ground early u get acouaint- ed Four of the delegations. the Japanese, Chinese, Italian and Bel gian. were formally received by Pres ident Harding and most of those who have arrived completed the round of customary official visits by paving their respects to Secretaries Weeks and Denby after leaving the White House and state department. In each case the meetings were Of a ceremonial character and the issues of the coming conference were not discussed.
 FIRE 0AMAEEC u0TEl