Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-07-30
JAP ACCEPT A|VCE IS
DELIGHT To CAPITAL
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Ieased Wire Service to The journal. J
(CODyright 1921

>
Copyright, 1929
WASHINGTON, July 28.-The
United States government is proceed
ing on the assumption that all the
powers, including Japan, will ap-
proach the subject of a program fov
the disarmament conference with d
desire to get results and not to use
the meeting as vehicle for an in
terminable discussion Of information
al problems.
Japan's acceptance Of Americas
Invitation creates in Washington a
most favorable effect. It is true
there are some phrases in the Japa-
nese reply which appear to be a quail
if1cation, but the important Fact to
bear in mind is that Secretary
Hughes doesn't regard it as a quail
flied acceptance. When Japan said
problems should be omitted from the
discussion which are of sole concern
tiers. be excluded which may oe re-
garded "as accomplished fact" it was
possible to construe her words as a
sort Of warning against too much
optimism concerning her attitude, but
lawyer, doesn't have that impression
| and looks upon the Japanese state
| ment as legal "caveat," something
| which the United States or any 9TH
er power would feel free to express
before entering any conference.
The japanese are cautious and do
not want to seem to be agreeing to
a reopening of all Far Eastern ques-
| tons. 1t is an important thing that
they agree to discuss Far Eastern
questions at all, for the Japanese al
| ways have shown a reluctance to
throw all their problems into the
hopper for discussion by outside
powers. If America were asked to
submit any questions affecting Gen.
would be opposition.
Feeling Of Gratitude
When the Monroe doctrine was
mentioned in connection with the
League of Nations, American sena-
tors insisted that not only must the
doctrine be omitted from the scope
| of the covenant, but no question must
ever be permitted to come before the
| league affecting the doctrine in any
| way.
In view of this history, the off,
| cial feeling here is one of gratitude
| to Japan for taking so broad a view
of the problems of the world and
being willing in the first place to
special international conference, and
| secondly placing only a slight limi-
| tation on the character of the sub
| jects to be discussed.
Germ to certain powers" is cons srued
| here to mean that Japan may feel
it wise to urge the omission of the
| immigration question if it comes UP,
| for she believes she can adjust it
much, more easily by direct pegotia-
| concerned. than through a general
parley. The United States govern
| 1nent might be disposed to take
| similar view.
the zap question was an accom-
plished fact" the United States
would poinI out that France and
Italy have concurred In the Ameri-
can viewpoint, namely that the Yap
mandate was not legally bestowed on
| If a discussion should ensue as to
whether zap should be included in
| the program of the conference, it
| might easily happen that the pro
| gram would not be fully decided upon
| until the conference actually began.
in which case the same result would
| be achieved when the delegates reach
ed mere. For in trying to determine
Wnetner the zap question should be
| regarded. as an accomplished fact"
the merits of the whole question
would have to be discussed anew.
No Obstacles Seen
80 the Japanese qualifications at
| tn!S time cannot be considered as
raising any more of an obstacle to
| future agreement than would natu-
rally be the case when the Japanese
viewpoint was expressed at the con-
ference itself. 1t is not expected
| that harmonious agreement will be
achieved at once. but only after a
| full and frank interchange of views
| among the delegates.
Secretary Hughes will cross thai
| bridge when he comes to it. For
the present it is vital that all the
| powers have agreed to enter the
| conference and whether they are
| able to agree upon the "agenda" or
| program by cable in advance of the
conference or whether they will find
| it necessary to finish preparing the
| agenda when the delegates actually
get here, is only of secondary Inn
portance. Those who are familiar
ally precede the calling Of interna-
tional conferences will bear testi-
| mony to the fact that the disarma-
| ment conference has been arranged
| in remarkably short time and that
Secretary Hughes has won a big
| acceptance of the invitation on the
| basis Of the two main principles
the limitation of ornaments and the
discussion of Pacific and Far East
| ern questions"
Now that all the powers are COM
| mitted to a discussion of those prin-
ciples, the detailed views of each
power will come along in the natural
course. but those views, no matter
how uncompromising at this time,
can hardly prevent the actual gath
| ering of the delegates. And a great
| deal more can be expected from per-
sonal conference as compared with
correspondence by cable and diplo-
| matte note. The first step in the dis
armament has been taken and to say
| that President Harding and Secre-
tary Hughes are happy is to put it
| mildly.