Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-11-30
COMMISSION TO
EXAMINE INTO
CHINESE PUZZLE
Fate of Conference up to
Tokio-Success Made or
Marred by Japanese
Decision
TEN YEARS IDLENESS
Today's Discussions May Bring Solu-
ton of the Vexed Situation.-A
Weighty Session Expected.


The fate of the armament con
ference rests in Tokio'today. Japar
as has been anticipated from the
outset, can make or mar the decis
ion. She retains the last word. She
can accept the American naval pro
gram, now completely endorsed By
the United States, and make the
conference a success. Or she car
continue to insist on the 10-1O-7 ra
ito in naval strength and the wild
mad rush for naval supremacy vii
continue until the world is involved
in another war.
That was the situation facing the
conference when it's days activities
ended last night. This does not meaI
that an impasse ). has been reached
Far from this. But it does NEAR
that the friendly outcome OF the
conference rests entirely on a decls
ion by Japan. Members of the Nip
pom delegation late last night eN'
blamed that they hoped for an ac'
cord. They called attention to foul
DAYS for a reply to reach Washington
to an inquiry that is sent to Toxic
And they intimated that final de-
cision might soon be forthcoming
However, it was suggested tna1
there was a question OF oplnior
among the delegates here and 1t also
was intimated that up to the pres,
ent at least, the delegation was moi
a unit in it's naval opinion.
In this connection Prince Toku,
rawa, chief of the delegation, last
night suggested that the views OF
any individual member of the per,
sonnel or it's chief advisers, meant
little. He suggested that while
thev might entertain opinions al
variance with the possible outcome
Of the conference they, still couiG
change these opinions when the 1lnal
decision was brought before the rep
resentatives of Japan. Without sta:
ting so in specific terms he intimateo
that the opinions of Individual mem
bers of the delegation still had to be
submitted to vote of that delega-
ton. ~,
How frank that statement is vii!
be developed today. The complete
committee on naval armament
made up of the delegations from the
United States, Great Britain and
japan will receive the reports OF
their experts. They probably VII
hold an executive meeting. At tina,
time they will have to reach a flna
decision. 1t will be whether the de-
mand of the United States for the
reduction of capital ships shall be
accented. Japan last night suggest
ed that it was not yet ready to an
nounce it's position. There have beer
meetings throughout Japan at which
the question of the lo-lO-l Iatle de
has been DISCUSSED. They have beer
near riots in denouncing the sugges'
ton. The Japanese delegation here
is divided as to whether these meet
inps accurately represent the vie"
noint of Japan. They are more OF
less divided on problems of policy
But the decision finally is up to ia
pan-and despite denials--it is up tc
Toxic.
The American position is not sub,
lect TO cnanSe. II va" 81 W
only after the most painstaking IN
vestipation. Far greater sacrifices
were made by the United States
than was asked of either Great
Britain or Japan. From the high
est American source possible the
following outline was obtained last
night:
The situation as it appears today
is simply that if we approached this
subject on the basis OF nationa
needs there is very much that car
be said. Great Britain has posses:
sions in every sea. Inc Onltee
States has vast coast line on Two
oceans and insular possessions WIDE,
" separated. If YOU take natlona
needs, as suggested by Japan, then
basis of 10 to 7 as ratio is very
extravacant. In fact the experts Of
the United States, after a very care
full inquiry. placed the figure iron
this standpoint as at ~ to .. but a
no time has the United States ap,
preached this subject from the stane
point of national needs. We under
stand that this is a subject that car
be expanded at will. ;.
What the United States has saic
in assuming the leadership in dis
cussion of the naval rase is: "Stor
where you are!' That is the Ameri
can position. There Is a foot race
Some one says stop. All agree
| Then some one of the contestants
asks tc get ahead ten yards. That
is not the position of the United
! States. The question that we faced
simply was what is the existing
naval strength? No one questions
that the capital ship is the basis Of
naval strength.
So we considered 1t from thai
standpoint. There are several road
that we can take but all shoule
lead to the same solution. So a
fCnntinnad on page three)