The New York herald., 1921-12-21
TENSION RELAXED
Delegates Meet To-mor-
row to Pass on French
Claims for Aux
iliary Craft.
MAY FINISH PROGRAM
BRAND Warned Original De-
mand Meant Navies Far
Outstripping Frances.
4 POWER TREATY'S SCOPE
1t Includes Homeland of Japan
and Is Acceptable to
Harding.
A POWER TREATY'S SCOPE
BY LOUIS sEIBOLD.


Special Dispatch to THE NEW YORK HEaALp
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington. ID. C., Dec. 20.
Three Developments in the interna.
tional situation to-day were of a
mixed character The most impor-
tant and generally satisfactory was
the acceptance by France of the al.
lotment of capital ships provided by
the Hughes naval limitation plan.
The question relating to naval
armaments yet to be settled is the
determination OF the percentage OF
light cruisers, torpedo boats and sub.
marines which will fall to the lot Of
Italy and France.
The other two incidents which en-.
gagged attention Of delegates and OBJ.
servers were of collateral nature.
One was an apparent difference of
opinion between President Harding
and the American, British, French
and japanese delegates as to the
proper Interpretation OF the four
Power Fscitic treaty, signed a week
| ago yesterday.
Food fos Hostile Elements.
In conversation with newspaper
correspondents this morning the
President expressed the opinion that
the home land of Japan did not como
within the words "insular posses.
sions and insular dominions" His
statements were seized upon by hos.
tile elements In Congress to indicate
marked difference OF opinion be-
tween the representatives Of his own
and other governments.
II was hailed as "a great sensation"
and inspired the prediction that all
conference undertakings finally
would fail This prophecy turned
out to be tempest in teapot. When
the President tonight was advised OF
the use being made of his casual OBJ
servation re announced that he had
been informed that the American
| delegates had agreed to the corstruc-
tion which includes the home land OF
Japan in the quoted phrases. He de-
clared that he had no objection to
this construction and predicted that
the difference of view (due to a mig.
understanding will in no wise ba
permitted TO embarrass the confer.
ence or the ratification OF the agree
ment.
that provoked disappointment among
delegates was the temporary break.
ing of the direct negotiations be-
tween the Chinese and japanese dele
gates over restoration of ShantupR
to China. The Oriental rivals found
IL impossible TO reach an agreement
because of the arbitrary terms die.
tated by the delegates of Japan.
japanese Demands.
Acting under instructions from
Toxic, the Japanese representatives
demanded the right to advance money
secured by a mortgage to China 70
finance the transfer Of the ShantunR
Railway and the supervision OF It's
expenditure and the operation of the
railway by Japanese experts These
propositions were rejected by the Chi
nese delegates. who had agreed To
most Of the other changes imposed by
japan.
The Japanese delegates refused 10
withdraw their demands. The Chinese
delegates therefore declared they
would not proceed further with the
negotiations. but would attempt TO
have the matter settled by the inter
national conference. The Japanese
delegates were not inclined tonight to
regard the negotiations at an end.
/ They said they had communicated tho
I Chinese position 20 the Toxic Govern
ment and asked for instructions.
I The delegates from this and other
countries are exerting their good Of
! fees to obtain from Japan concessions
\ that the Chinese Government may ac-
cept They would like TO have the
Shaufung controversy settled outside
OF the conference. The reason is that
seven of the countries represented ap-
proved of the award made in the Yer
sailles treaty of Shantung to Japan.
and their representatives do not feel
I that they can renounce their obliga-
/ tions In this respect. For the time
/ however. the Shantung negotiations
are at an end. IL is now up TO, the