The New York herald., 1921-11-30
STEED sees PARLEY
END IN BIG SUCCESS
LvHd0n Editor Decries Va
porings and Carpings in
Many Quarters.
DIFFICULTIES FADING
Japanese Protest on Naval
Ration Likely to Be
Dropped, Is Belief,
TEAM WORK rs GREAT AID
Settlement of Question of An
e'lo-Japanese Alliance Is
Said TO Be Near.
BY wICKHAM sTEED.
Editor of the London Times.


Editor Of the London Times.
Copyright, 1921. by United NeaCs.)
WASHINGTON. Nov. 29.-It now seems
likely that the next plenary sitting Of
the conference win be held toward the
end Of this week or the beginning of
next. It is probable also that when it
il held it will not be less momentous
than was the first sitting.
The course of International gather
inys is notoriously difficult to roretell
Even those who arc most favorably
placed are liable to overlook contin-
gencies that may retard progress or
upset any theory of probabilities. But,
unless my judgment Is entirely at
fault, the conference will be wei. over
its main difficulties before many days
are past and the. prophets Of evil will
be discounted.
It IN too early even to indicate in any
detail the character OF the agreements
which tho chairman soon may be in a
position to announce. One warning
may however, pe 6ifcH.
yice-Admi-al kanji Kato, the chief
Japanese naval expert, has issued a
statement to the effect that japan must
adhere to her demand for 70 per cent.
strength, since that is the minimum re-
quired for her security. AS I reported
yesterday, this issue has been taken
out Of the hands OF the naval experts
know whether the statesmen have al
ready reached satisfactory agreement,
but should be surprised were such
agreement to be indefinitely delayed.
Progress, Also Confidence.
Upon other aspects OF the naval uues-
tion substantial progress seems to have
been made. There is an undercurrent
Of confidence in this respect among the
principal delegates that cannot be en-
tirely justified. Confidence appears to
be felt in other respects also.
It is too early to Indicate the nature
OF the exchanges of view that have
undoubtedly taken place at Washington
in regard to the Anglo-Japanese al
lance, but it would cause no astonish-
nent in we'll informed quarters should
Il ultimately transpire that the ques-
ton has been faced and settled in an
enlnentiy reasonable way
I said recently that the American
team harnessed to the conference is par
ticularly strong and lusty. and that
IL Is willing and able to pull together
and to pull tho conference through miry
places Under the direction of President
Harding the work of Messrs. Hughes.
Root, Lodge and Underwood has been
sdn1irable. a similar need Of recogni-
tion is due 70 the British delegation.
When II is considered that Mr.. Balfour,
sir Auckland Geddes, Lord Lee, Sir
Robert Borden, Senator Pearce, Sir John
Salmond and Mr.. Sastri had never be-
fore worked as a team, and that some
or them were not even personally ac-
cuainted when the conference began, the
manner In which they have adopted a
common standpoint and have concen-
trated their efforts upon the attainment
Of the main purposes of the conference
IS highly crcditablc. They meet daily at
che British Embassy and behave as a
band of brothers.
r. in the nature of things. st is not
the business of the British delegates to
haul the conference along, it Is and has
b,en their business to remove boulders
from the road and to grease the wheels
This they have conscientious1y done
amid general good will
BnIfour Inspires Colleagues.
Doubtless Mr.. Balfour's geniality and
real passion for the peace of the world
have inspired his fellow delegates. His
knowledge of local conditions and the
sincerity OF his devotion tn the purposes
Of the conference that has gained him
general confidence have also been in
valuable The influence Of Sir Robert
Borden, whose strong Canadian patriot
ism, dctracts in no wise from his in
stinctive comprehension of The Ameri
cpn standpoint, has iik,wise been OF tho
utmost service. But when all Is said and
done, the credit for whatever may be
ACCOMPLISHED by the British delegation
In secondirg tho exalted initiative OF the
American Administration belongs 20 the
delegation as a whole.
Nor should word of praise be with
held from the French delegates. When
allowance has been made for the diff
culties OF F-rencilmen in comprehendlng
American conditions and modes Of
thought, IL Is undeniable that, AS soon
as the French delegation found their
bearings and realized the misleading
effect or sundry erroneous notions which
they had imbibed, they entered into the
spirit of the conference and became
truly helpful.
DESPITE quips and sibes, to which no
real Importance ought ever to have been
attached, NJ. BRAND, as have good
reason to know, srdently desires the
closest understanding and the fullest CO.
operation with England. Since his de-
parture, the leading French delegates,
NM vivianj and Sarraut. have neg
,ected no opportunity OF showing their
,srdiaiity toward their British col
leagues, by wnoiu. it need hardly he
said, their good viii Is warmly rccipro-
Gated.
4 have said enough to Indicate tho
atmosphere within the conference AZ
distinguished from the doubts. tho
speculations and the vaporipgs without.
Some untoward incident may still cause
4 momentary embarrassment. but. IN
any event, thinss seem now 10 be NOV
ing so strongly aud swiftly toward the
realization OF the main desires OF those
who wish the conference well. that IL is
difficult to imagine how its outcome
osn be anything but solid and cndur-
ins success.