The New York herald., 1921-12-05
Irish Settlement Would
Have Beneficial Effect in
U. S., Says Editor.
IlIPARTIALTY rs PRAISED
Seeming Split Between Britain
and France Also Deplored
in America.
ny wIcKHAsr srEEp.
Editor Of the london Times.

(CopUri9ht, 1921, Or United Neics. J
WASHINGTON. Dec. 4.-The confer
ence is to take a few days holiday
while Toxic sanctions the acceptance
by the Japanese delegation Of the
5-5-3 naval ratio and of other matters
upon which the chief delegates are
| agreed. The demon OF doubt that
haunts even the most candid minds in
the ne1ghborhood of an international
conference suggests. however. that the
holiday may not be absolute Ad-
vantage will probably be taken of the
opportunity for private intercourse
Some loose ends on the fringe of the
conference may be neatly tied UP, SO
that whenever the next plenary sit
ting IS held the list of definite de-
cisions may be as complete as possi-
BILE.
1t is still uncertain when that Will be.
Some say Thursday, some say next
week. Others fear that Toxic may not
sanction the proposed arrangements in
| their entirety, and that further delay
may thus be caused. Yet surprise would
be felt should Toxic withhold approval
OF any essential feature.
Arrangements ms Scheduled.
The arrangements professionally agreed
upon are, roughly:
]. The 5-5-3 ratio Of capital ship
strength as between the United
States, the British Empire and Japun.
1t is uncertain whether the battleship
Mutsu and corresponding new units
Tor the American and British navies
Will he comprised in the ratio or not.
?. An understanding between the
United States, the British Empire
Japan and France in regard to the
Pacific, each Power engaging itself
to respect the integrity OF the others
island possessions in the Pacific and
in the event OF any dispute to invoke
tho good offices OF the other parties
to the understanding.
3. In virtue OF this understanding
the Anglo-Japanese alliance is alb
rogated.
4. AS a eorollary TO the limitation
or naval ornaments there is TO be
no fortificatlon OF islands IN the
western Pacific.
Some uncertainty persists UPON the
question Of submarines. In quarters ac-
uuainted with American feeling on the
subject it Is, however, alleged that
strong representations against subma-
rine warfare have reached the nd
minlstration from several parts OF tho
country, and that the tendency of the
American delegation to admit the desir-
ability of restricting submarine has
thereby been strengthened.
1t seems likely also that some changes
u - "a
the naval holiday proposal and 81 the
method of replacing obsolete capital
ships. According TO a statement Issued
70 the American press. the British naval
experts pointed ont to their American
colleagues that the proposed method OF
replacement would give TO the British
navy some years hence On immense su-
periority over the American navy. while
later on the British navy would fall far
behind until the operation OF the pro-
posed scheme again gave II q dispropor-
tionate accession OF strength. II Is sup
posed therefore, that when the revised
scheme is made public these causes of
violent oscillation viii have been re-
moved.
Much Interest I'm Conference.
The knowledge that important agree
I menus are uNdlAliS NiAt SohINt'h VI 1if
Japanese Government will turn the at
,ention Of the American people more
! than ever toward Washington during ths
/ next few days Interest In the doing'
OF the conference IS at once general and
I intense throughout the country. Every
1 development in European politics that
may affect directly or indirectly the at
mosphere of Washington Is therefore
noted and keenly discussed. In particu
/ lar the vicissitudes OF the Irish ncgo
/ tiations and of what il unfortunatel,
still regarded as the Anglo-French quar-
| rel are watched with eager eyes alike h.
the supporters and the opponents OF tn,
/ conference.
The beneflcent effect IN this countr,
Of an Irish settlement could scarcely b'
ovcrstated The American public as
whole views this issue with a conscien
tious inpartiality that is by no fneaui
Incompatible with an ardent hope that ;
settlement may be attained. Scarcel,
loss beneficent would be proof tha
Anrlo-French differences had been com
posed. or at least that the British an,
French governments were preparing q
discuss them In n spirit free from acri
mony or mutual suspicion.
The tendency toward untrammelle,
cooperation with the principal civilized
nations which the Washington conference,
has done much and may do more % stim
ulate IN the best American minds woult
be notably strengthened by the ccrtaint,
that tho leading European Allies In tn
war were stiil allied in spirit and Il
practice when faclng the embarrass
r,,ry,fu of pfnrn