The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-12-12
CONFERENCE To
END LAbORS BY
FIRST Of YEAR
Japan Expected Voice Approval
of $3.50 Navy Program
Shortly.
BY GEORGE r. HOLMES,

"Out of Washington by New Year"
was the aim of the delegates to the
armament conference as the epoch
making parley swung into its fourth
week today with its major purposes
accomplished.
On the surface of things today 1t
appeared entirely probable that the
ambition of the delegates would be re-
allied. and that the holidays would see
the departure of the big conference
rersonages at least.
China Problem Still Unsolved.
The problem of China. of Siberia,
and the final adjustment Of the naval
program laid down by Secretary Of
State Hughes on the opening day re-
main to be cleared up.
With regard to the naval program,
Tokyo's answer is in the hands Of
Baron Kato, head of the Japanese
delegation, and may be presented to
the other powers at a secret meeting
of the big three late today. Tokyo's
answer IL believed to be acceptance
of the $50 capital ship ratio insist ed
upon by the United States, coupled
with q reservation preserving the
status quo Of Notifications in the Pa
cific and a trade of some sort which
will permit Japan to retain the Mutsu,
her later and most powerful dread.
naught.
Chinese Greatly Helped. Belief.
With regard to China, the powers
believe that most of what can be &C.
complished here has already been done
by the adoption of the four Root prin-
ciples which pledge them not to nibble
any more at Chinese sovereignty and
to respect the open-door policy Of
John Hay.
The Siberian question, It Is believed,
can be disposed Of in much the same
way-through the adoption by the
principal powers concerned Of q set Of
governing principles, the purport Of
which will be that they shall not take
advantage of existing conditions to
quietly appropriate Russian territory.
Great Britain will make q strenu-
Gus effort to lower the submarine
tonnage of 10000 tons. proposed in
the American program, and also to
have abolished entirely the larger
types Of cruising submarines. Amerl-
can naval opinion is staunchly op.
posed to the British plan. but whether
the views Of experts can prevail over
the views of politicians is a question
that only the future can determine.
Everyone Seems Satisfied.
Az matters now stand, 1t appears
probable that everyone is in a fair
way to be satisfied with the work of
the conference with the exception OF
China. 1t Ia significant that officials
have taken pains to point out In re.
cent days that the Chinese expect
too much"
|. 1t is possible that China may yet
bolt the conference. A great deal
depends, II Is admitted. upon the
state of popular feeling in China.
A bolt would probably save the
faces" Of the Chinese delegates with
home folks, and at the same time
would not necessarily initiate against
fulfillment Of what the conference
already has pledged.
Should the Chinese delegates really
leave. It Is not improbable that the
powers would combine in q state
ment Of general principles toward
China, and leave to a later confer.
ence, maybe year hence. the dis
cussion Of application OF the policies
promulgated.
Meanwhile. the Far East discus
sions were renewed today in secret
by the committee of the whole con-
ference. Later in the day the Chi
nese and Japanese were to renew
their private negotiations over the re-
turn of 6hantung to China