The Washington herald., 1921-12-01
SEES MOMENTOUS
EVENTS AT NEXT
PLENARY SESSION
British Editor Here Raps
Prophets of Failure
For Farley.
BY WICKHAM STEED.
editor of London Times)

Editor OF London Ttmes.D
1t now seems likely that the next
plenary sitting of the conference
on Limitation of ornaments will be
held toward the end of this week
or the beginning OF next. 1t is
probable also that when it Is held
u Will be not less momentous than
was the first sitting.
The course of International gath
erings is notoriously difficult to
toretell- Even those who are most
favorsbly placed are apt to over
look contingencies that may rctard
progress or upset any theory of
probabilities. But, unless my judg-
ment is at fault. the conference
Will be well over its main diffi-
culties before many days are past,
and the prophets OF evil will be
discounted.
II Is too early even to indicate
in any detail the character of the
agreements which the chairman
may shortly be in a position to an
nounce. One warning, however,
may be given:
Expects Japanese Agreement.
Vice Admiral Kanji Kato, the
chlef japanese naval expert, who
miral Baron Kato. the chief Jap.-
nese delegate. has issued a state
ment to the effect that Japan must
aonere to her demand for 10 per
cent OF American OF British capital
shlp-strength, since that is the
minimum required for her security.
As 1 reported yesterday. this issue
mas been taken out OF the hands of
the naval experts and entrusted to
statesmen. | do not know whether
tue statesmen have already reached
a satisfactory agreement, but 1
should be surprised were such
Iasreement to be indefinitely de-
Upon other aspects of the naval
question substantial progress seems
TO have been made. There is, an
undercurrent of confidence in this
respect among the principal dele
gates that cannot be entirely un-
justified. Confidence appears to be
felt in other respects also,
The representative of a promi-
nent American journal states on
Japanese authority that the Anglo
Japanese alliance Is regarded as
fundamentally important both to
Great Britain and Japan. The SUBJ
1ect OF the alliance, he adds, has
not been brought up officially at
the conference. British, Japanese
and American delegates have dis
cussed II without reaching a de-
cision- Great Britain. he continues,
Is understood to be more concerned
than Japan for renewal OF the al
lance. japanese representatives
assert that they have no fear of
trouble with the United States,
while Great Britain may need the
help of the Japanese army and
navy in the Orient. and particu-
larly in India.
Deplores HPropaEAnda.,
II any Japanese representative
has talked in this fashion. he has
talked sad fudge. Propaganda of
this kind is reprehensible. II Is
too early to Indicate the nature
of the exchanges of view that have
undoubtedly taken place at Wash
ington in regard to the Anglo
Japanese alliance, but II would
cause no astonishment In well-in-
formed quarters should II ulti,
mately transpire that the question
has been faced and settled in an
eminently reasonable way.
said recently that the Ameri-
can team harnessed to the confer
ence Is particularly strong and
lusty. and that IT is willing and
able to pull together and to pull
the conference through miry
places. Under the direction Of
President Harding, the work of
Messrs- Hughes, Root, Lodge and
Underwood has been admirable. A
similar meed of recognition is due
to 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 before worked as
a team. and that some of them were
not even personally acquainted
when the conference began, the
manner in which they have adopt
ed common standpoint and have
concentrated their efforts upon the
attainment of the main purposes of
the conference is highly creditable.
They meet daily at the British EN-
bassy, and behave as a band of
brothers.
British Aid Invaluable.
If. in the nature OF things, II Is
not the business of the British dele
gates to haul the conference along,
il is and has been, their business
to remove boulders from the road
and to grease the wheels. This
they have conscientiously done,
amid general goodwill. Doubtless,
Mr.. Balfour's geniality and real
passion for the peace of the world
have inspired his fellow delegates
The British Ambassadors knowr-
edge of local conditions, and the
sincerity of his devotion to the pur-
poses OF the conference that has
gained him general confidence, have
also been invaluable. The influence
of Sir Robert Borden, whose strong
Canadian patriotism detracts In nc
wise from his instructive compre.
hension of the American standpoint,
has likewise been Of the utmost
service. But when all is said and
done, the credit for whatever may
be accomplished by the British
delegation, in seconding the ex-
alted initiative of the American
administration, belongs to the dele