Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-11-21
JAPAN STILL BALKS
ON SCRAPP|NGH HER
BIG BATTLESH|PS
May Withdraw From ShantunR
Under Private Agreement
Reached With China.
EAST PROBLEM DWINDLEs

Washington. Nov. 21.---Japan has H.
nally found a technical point that she
thinks will stick In her campaign to
have her allotment under the American
plan for naval reductions increased to
the extent of one more capital ship.
She does not want to scrap the
Mutsu. biggest and most powerful
lighting machine Japan ever launched,
though It was specifically referred to
by Mr.. Hughes as among the ships
that would be destroyed.
Japan realizes that the American
proposals are not subject to change.
but has I'm mind the intimation that
our people We're willing to listen TO
anything that might be urged against
the accuracy of the data on which
that plan was based.
So she presents the case of the
Mutsu. which Secretary Hughes. in
his announcement at the opening ses-
sion of the conference. alluded to thus
Japan To scrap three battleships; thc
Mutsu, launched; Tosa and Kaga
building, and four battle crusers,
SC.
The Japanese say thGt the Mutsu Is
actually in commission: that che be-
came an actual, active part of the
Japanese Navy in October, and they
purpose putting up the argument that
1t IL not In conformity with the spirit
of our proposals that she should IN
asked TO junk her mightlest ship Will,
this country retains the Maryland
which Is our latest and finest war ma
chine. The Maryland went into com
mission Ave months ago. before this
Arms Conference was called.
The big point about IL Is the dem
onstration OF the tenacity of the Jap.
anese In holding to the presentation
of their claims TO bigger ratio thar
was accorded them.
1t may he that this is merely -
trading point; that the japanese in
tend to yield II finally. provided they
are not pressed too hard on the Chi
n Sc question. II argues more trouble
in arriving at an agreement on Nh
navies than seemed likely yesterda
and promises badly for an early con
cluslon of the conference.
Japan has also indicated that sh
will fight hard for an equality wit
the United States and Great Brital
In the matter OF airplane carriers
Under our proposal she Is permitte
$4,000 tong OF this new naval auxil
,ary. This country and England ar
. permitted $4,000 tons.
The. withdrawal OF Japan fror
Shantung and the REIMBURSEMENT c
the railroads and other German right
, she controls through oustlng German
in 1914 promise TO NJ settled by dlplc
, matte negotiations between Japan an
; China, according to reliable inf6fma
ton here.
Negotiations opened by Japan SON
months ago, but rejected by Chin
have been reopened since the conver
!, ing OF the Washington conferenc
! and such satisfactory progress Is b,
y ing made. Il was said In diplomatic eli
cles yesterday as TO convince the AmeI
: lean officials that the Shantung issl
will not be brought up at this confe
cnce.
y Since coming here the Chinese rel
J. resentatlvcs have been advised tn
Tn move made by the Picking Co
{ ernment In ignoring Japan's offer
discuss its withdrawal from ShantVn
y as promised at Paris, has had b;
" effect. They were told that Shantur
; could not properly co..e before tn
- conference, inasmuch as japan
- rights in Shantung were granted |
D the Versailles Treaty, and the sign
tories of that treaty. most of who
-. are represented here. could not he q
pected TO reverse the position ASSUME
" at Paris.
:, A certain degree of confidence, a
:, parent in conference. circles, over II
- Far Eastern and Pacific situati,
gives ground for the belief that pi
vate conversations between leadi,
delegates of several powers have la
:. the foundation for an adjustment
these political problems which will
. apparent before the conference
many weeks old. 1t ia understood tn
these private exchanges were in pro
ress even before the conference a
sembled in Washington on Nov. /.
- In view of this, additional signi
canoe is attached to the view in
rs formed. quarters that if a progra
az of naval reduction and Limitation
70 adopted, the problems of the Far Ia
o. and the Pacific will quickly be adju.
n ed.