New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-22
Administration Insists
All Questions Affecting
Military Power Will
Have To Be Adjusted
No Giving g Way to
Japan's Attitude
Informed High Official
Says Some Nations Hope
for a Clash in Pacific
By Carter Field

WASHINGTON, July 21.-Despite
earnest desires to concilate Japan and
to bring her whole heartedlv into the
conference on armament limitation and
Far Eastern questions, the Harding
Administration is firmly determined
that the proposed conference cannot be
Whitfield down to a mere discussion of
armament limitations.
Without the settlement of the con-
troverses between this government
and Japan there can be no real prog
ress toward disarmament. Without
the settling of these controversies the
armament race must go on, and the
peoples of the United States and Japan
must continue to be taxed to bear the
terrific expense involved.
This was declared to-day by high
spokesmen of the Administration to be
fundamental and obvious. In the same
breath, however, the most radiant
optimism was expressed as to the sue
cess of the conference. Confidence
that Japan would not refuse to take up
the issues that at present prevent
perfect accord in the Far East and
make necessary the maintenance of
powerful navies was voiced with en-
thusiasm.
Obstacles To Be Overcome
1t is admitted privately that all the
skies are not smiling. One Cabinet
member told the Tribune correspond
ent that there are nations which would
rot be displeased to see the present
controversies between the United
States and Japan develop into war
which would cripple one or both, pref
erably both. SO it may be expected
that some unlooked-for obstacles may
be placed in the path, and they will
have to be overcome if success is to be
obtained.
Meanwhile, however, conferences
between Secretary Of State Hughes
and Japanese Ambassador Shidehara
ar are gong forward particularly on
the Caroline and Marshall islands,
while even Shantung though this is
an entirely different problem--is being
informally discussed.
Shantung is entirely distinct in that
Shls was not a cession by Germany
OF an overseas possession to the FIVE
principal Allied and associated powers
as was the case with Yap and ali
other mandates, but a direct cession
OF her concessions-which did not in
clude territorial sovereig nty-to Japan
"Open Door, Is Nub
Practically the kernel of the whole
American contention may be expressed
in the words "open door" so succinctly
applied to the Chinese question by John
Hay. Japan must concede the open door
policy, and recognition of American
rights, which pretty nearly amounts to
the same thing, or she must give up
any idea of having the United States
suspend her naval building program.
Increasing the fair lead which this
country already holds.
The determination of the United
States that Far Eastern and Pacific
questions must Of necessity be disposed
of before the armament discussion is
begun has been made perfectly clear to
the various nations invited to partici-
pate. 1t has been explained that the
relation between the two problems is
SO vital that President Harding pro-
posed one conference to dispose of both
subjects instead Of two separate con-
ferences
This point, incidentally, has been
emphasized from the first day in the
Tribune's Washington dispatches.
The suggestion was made in a ques-
ton addressed to high spokesman of
the Administration to-day that if
japan objected to discussing Shantung,
Yap and other subjects at the confer
ence perhaps these might be referred
to another conference later, especially
as the British dominion premiers
wanted postponement until spring.
Preparations Go On
There is going to be only one con-
ference" declared the spokesman, posi-
lively, "but that suggestion would put
the cart before the horse. We cannot
have an intelligent or hopeful confer
ence on armament limitation until we
have disposed of the questions that
might lead to serious controversies"
Should the conference be postponed
until spring the time viii not be en-
tirely lost, it was declared, because
informal discussions could continNe
and perhaps many of the problems
solved by that kind of negotiation,
thus saving delay at the actual meeting.
Preliminary work already is being
done by the State and War depart
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