Evening star., 1921-07-15
SENTIMENT IN JAPAN.
Desired That There Be Clearer Un-
derstanding as to Farley.

BY the Associated Press.
TOXIC. July 14.-Japan's answer to
President Harding's proposal for
conference on limitation of arma-
ments. which has been forwarded to
Washington. while accepting the sue-
gestion for an armament conference.
says the Jill Shimpo today. makes
reservations concerning general far
eastern concerns until more has been
learned as to the scope andynature OF
the questions TO be considered.
What the significance is of fresi-
dent Harding's call for a Ear eastern
conference and how such conference
would affect Japan's future position
in world affairs are the queries
dominating public discussion. The
trend of this discussion creates the
impression that while Japan anticipat-
ed the call for a conference with
Great Britain and the United States
and is particularly desirous of reach
ing workable understanding with
America she is surprised at the in
clusion of other powers in the IN
vItation. and looks with trepidation
on an international examination of a
magnitude promising to exceed pre-
conceived ideas into far eastern ques-
tionS.
Lone Hand Feared.
Generally speaking. the fear is
voiced that Japan may be forced TO
play a lone hand and have another
diplomatic battle on her hands similar
to that at the Paris peace conference.
besides being placed constantly on
the defensive as regards her far east
ern rights.
In an article which seems to reflect
the representative view, the NichI
Nichi Shimbun declares that SO long
as the powers practice racial discrim.
ination against Japanese in the United
States. Canada. Australia, New Zea-
land and elsewhere, while demanding
the enforcement of equal privileges
and equal opportunities in the far
east, Japan should carefully consider
before joining IN such conference.
If, however, says the newspaper, the
powers intend to abolish the existing
limitation on the Japanese. establish
worldwide open-door principle and
recognize the equality of the Japa-
nese with other peoples. then the in
vitation should be accepted.
American Aims Suspected.
Japan must regard as menace.
says Nichi Nichi, Americas gradual
concentration of warships in the Pa
cific. while the increasing of the
American fortifications in the Pacific.
including those at Guam. near the
coast of Japan. argues the newspaper,
shows that an agreement must be
reached for the cessation of fortifica-
tions works on the Pacific coast and
at the naval bases in Hawaii and Ma
Mia.
THE invitation will have a bearing
on the future history of Japan" con-
tinues the article. I'VE believe the
idea, in part. represents Great Brit
aims tactful method of extracting
herself from her far eastern entangle-
ments and also of preventing America
and Japan increasing their navies
against Great Britain's."
The militarist journal. the Kokumin
Shimbun. doubts the sincerity of the
American invitation; and it urges the
Japanese to remember how America
"duped the world" concerning the
league of nations. The power. II
says, should make sure whether the
United States intends to adhere to the
agreements which may be reached at
the forthcoming conference. .,
Conference Welcomed.
In welcoming the idea of the con-
ference Baron Yoshiro Sakatani. for
mer. finance minister. said the extent
of the limitation of armaments was
SO closely connected with considera-
tions of the balance of power in the
Pacific, as well as with the industrial
capacities of the different powers. that
the conclusion of practical agree
ment would. in his view. be attended
with difficulties.
President Fujiyama of the Toxic
Chamber of Commerce said that Pres
ident Harding's call met the ideas of
the japanese business world. which
favored an international agreement
such as would permit the reduction
of Japan's big army. now deemed
necessary to cope with possible dam
gers in Asia, and that it would pre-
sent a good opportunity for Japan to
prove to the world that she was sim
cerely ambitious to promote peace.
From a representative of the army
authorities came this expression:
"If the conference touches upon
army matters, the Japanese army will
be ready to cooperate"
Mentioned as Delegate.
The campaign of Yukio Ozaki, for
mer minister of justice, in favor of
armament Limitation. which made him
one of the leading liberals of Japan.
has caused him to be prominently
mentioned as one ofJapan's delegates
TO the Washington conference. Ad-
miral Kato, minister Of marine, and
III. Ijuin, former Japanese minister to
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