New-York tribune., 1921-11-18
France Willing Adjust Border Of doChna Concession China

AxN AAelined to support the British sug-
gestfon that the submarine tonnage be
further limited, certainly as to big sub
marines designed obviously for attack.
The Japanese statement came as the
conclusion Of what was regarded hero
as probably the most amazing confer
ence ever held between the press repre-
sentatives of country and that coun-
try's diplomatic representatives.
Correspondents Favor u. 8. Plan
All of the Japanese correspondents
here, about forty in number, held q
meeting this afternoon in which they
expressed to each other views they had
received from their newspapers by
cable to the effect that the Japanese
should not seek to modify in drastic
manner the American naval armament
proposals.
After the meeting the correspondents
waited on Admiral Kato. telling him
op:Lion. According to the accounts Of
some of them afterward the Admiral
pleaded with the correspondents not to
criticize the Japanese delegation and
not to interfere with the chances for
gaining something for Japan which
would be greatly to her advantage.
The Admiral told the correspondents,
sccording to their accounts, that he
thought there was an excellent chance
that the conference would modify the
American proposals slightly to con-
form with Japanese desires, particular.
ly with regard to light cruisers, and
perhaps by increasing the proportion
of battleships allotted to Japan. Until
he at least had made this effort, he
urged, they should abstain from hostile
comment.
Thereupon the Japanese correspond
ents, according to their version, prom
ised to give the Japanese delegation
time to make this fight, during which
there would be at least temporary
suspension of hostile criticism by the
Japanese writers.
Episode Surprises Diplomats
The whole story Is one which caused
the utmost amazement in Washington
both among officials and correspond
ents from other countries. The sur
prise is the greater because Of the
idea which had prevailed quite gen
orally here that the Japanese news
papers were not SO Independent in
their criticisms Of the government or
IN opposing objects desired and policies
wished by the government, as news
papers in other countries.
To the American, British and French
newspaper men the idea of all the
on some policy and virtually threaten
ing. their diplomatic representatives
with criticism in the event that policy
was not pursued, is simply incompre-
hensible. Some Of the more cynical
were inclined to believe that the whole
thing was an inspired movement with
a view either to letting Admiral Kato
down more gracefully, or to giving
America the idea that public opinion
that country to do the right thing on
any given situation in the Far East,
This last is on the idea that Japan,
Of course. would like to have an agree
ment on armament limitation, leaving
the Pacific and Far Eastern questions
referred to some quarter for future
consideration.
British Feel Criticisms
The situation is interesting however,
because the British delegation un-
doubtedly is being tremendously in
fiuenced by the sharp criticisms which
have appeared in some of their in
fuential newspapers against proposed
amendments which the British delega-
ton desired.
The fire of the British newspapers
has been concentrated particularly
against the suggestion, which was
thrown out by the British here and
which has been printed everywhere,
that the British delegation would like
to amend the naval holiday idea by
having one ship a year constructed,
the thought here being that this would
keep the armor plants and gun fac
tories in operation, and would prevent
the sudden necessity for large plants
and factories at the time when the
construction ef ships for replacement
shall begin.
This suggestion was belittled to-day
by the British, with very plain indi-
cations that they had seen the hand
writing on the wall, so far as this par
ticular objection to the American pro-
posals is concerned.
So astonishment at the action Of the
Japanese correspondents is tempered
just a little by wonder at the apparent
reversal on one question by the British.