The Washington herald., 1921-11-17
British Say They Favor
Suggestions Advanced
By Pekin.
ENGLAND CLINGS
TO HER BIG ARMY
Europe Will Not Aban.
don Conscription, Mis-
sion Points Out.

British delegation headquarters
is convinced that the armament
conference will not be long drawn
out. Members of the delegation
made it very plain last night that
the progress being effected in con-
sidering the various proposals Is
exceedingly swift. The Chinese
proposals made yesterday In the
first big secret conference OF the
delegations are to be considered
from a very friendly viewpoint.
They are not to be discussed imme-
diately. but will be taken up in
their regular order by the delegates
as 5oon as they are reached. And
both the British and Japanese del
egations have let it be known that
they saw very much merit in many
Of the suggestions.
At the same time members of the
British delegation let I be known
that the proposals for the limitation
of armament and settlement of Far
East questions are being considered
quite separately and may be settled
separately, or that one may be set
tied and in no way affected by
failure to arrive at an agreement
on the other. This. also, points TO
to an early termination of the con-
ference.
Want Naval Holiday.
British delegates are quite salts
fed with the Hughes proposals and,
although several notifications have
been suggested by them, they Ak
pressed again hope and belief that
the conference will be eminently
successful and that concessions will
be made, wherever possible. This
was particularly noticeable in their
statement with reference to their
suggestion that a yard be main
tsined for the construction of one
ship a year, to keep the industry
intact. and also for the object Of
replacements.
The delegation made il plain tina:
this idea would not be entertained
! tor one moment if 1t was found that
by so doing the number Of ships
would be increased. and stated that
they would be very much disap-
pointed il a naval holiday should
be found impractica BILE.
Cling to Censcription.
In addition to forecasting speed
in disposing of the Far Eastern
subjects, the British oficials in
sisted that there would be no great
delay when the subject of land
armaments was taken up. 1t was
pointed out that none of the Con-
tinental European countries would
consent to abolishing conscription
at this time. And IL it simply is
to be a question of size OF armies
that will be easily determined.
In this connection the British
delegation let il be known that no
suggestion would be entertained d
for a reduction of the British stand
] ing army. now said to be the second
| largest in the world. The delegates
explained that the number and
strength of this branch of the SER
wee had been reduced to the extreme
minimum under the circumstances
and could not be further curtailed
with safety. Other powers. partic-
/ ularly the continental powers in
| Europe, feel the same way. ii was
ventured. Practically all of them
have found it necessary to resort 10
I conscription in order to maintain
their armies and in the face of un-
! settled conditions would resent
any attempt to interfere with this
arrangement. 1t was again stressed
by the British that naval arma-
ments must be the principal means
| of reduction at this time.
Favor Chinese SugEestions.
! AS to the general outline for the
| settlement of the Chinese portion
of the Far East problem the Brit
! ish looked upon the proposals sub
mitted by the Chinese yesterday
as being workable and in a large
| sense practical. Indeed the delega-
! tion was quite outspoken in saying
that in a general way the Chinese
/ had submitted scneme that was
looked upon with favor.
The British delegates took the
opportunity to make clear their at
titude on the Anglo-Japanese al
| lance and to clear up a general mis-.
understanding in connection with it
In certain American circles it was
believed, they said, that the al
lance had ceased to exist follow.
ing recent conference in London
The British explained that the al.
lance still was in effect and could
not be abandoned except on twelve
months notice by either of the
contracting sparties and that ne
such notice had been given. Thus
IL continues Indefinitely and is
looked upon as an agreeable ar
rangement.
Would Prefer Three-Cornered.
The British explained that OF
course they would much prefer
some arrangement whereby the al
lance could be abandoned for 8
lthree-cornered agreement betweer
the United States, Great Britain
and Japan, but feared that sucf
an arrangement might not be &C
ceptable to the United states.
The British. II was said, always
thad favored arrangements to brine
the powers concerned in the Pa
cific into an alliance and some gen
eral Arrangement whereby all frtc
tion might be avoided. Just now 6
tri-partite alliance would be mos
acceptable, provided the American
government would overcome It's OBJ
jections to such an arrangement II
was indicated.
| As for the Chinese proposals thu
British looked with particular favor
upon the suggestion by the Chimes
for an absolute open door" polio.
Throughout the Chinese republic.