The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-12-09
ARM DELEGATES
HOPE TO FINISH
PARLEY BY XMAS
Four Power Pacific Pact Now
Being Drawn Up.
Final Decision on All Points
Nearly Ready for Public.
JAPS TO ACCEPT HUGHES PLAN
"Big Four" Work Hard to Ar
rive at Decision.
ChinO-Jap Situation Only Bar to
Quick Finish.
laps TO ACCEPT HUGHES PLAN
"Big Four" Work Hard to Ar.
rive at Decision.

Washington, Dec 9.-The new four
power agreement governing future
policies in the Pacific, which pledges
the governments of Great Britain,
Japan, the United States and France
to respect each others territorial hold
ings in the Pacific ana TO submit such
difficulties as may arise to arbitration,
has been formally approved and may
be signed tonight or tomorrow, accord
ing to reliable reports in diplomatic
quarters today.
There were rumors that the agree
ment already has been signed, but
these were denied by authoritative
SpokeSmen.
1t is understood the finishing
touches were being put on the final
draft of the agreement today, with the
expectation that it would be ready for
signature either tonight or tomorrow
morning.
Nearly Ready for Open Session.
So encouraging a situation has de-
veloped in the arms negotiations that
some of the delegates believe an open
session of the conference will be called
early next week to announce agree
ment on the 5-5-3 naval ratio and the
quadruple arrangement proposed as
a substitute for the Anglo-Japanes
alliance.
There are intimations that the nego-
tiations are SO close to settlement
that some conference officials had ex-
pected an open session today or to-
morrow.
While the exact nature of the forth
coming announcement cannot be fore
cast, it seems probable that in addt-
ton to the naval ratio and the four
power plan, it may embody some for
NAL pronouncement of the principles
on which the conference expects to
limit Qualifications and naval bases in
the Pacific. Definite decision on the
naval ratio question is now believed
to hinge on a satisfactory solution OF
the problem of naval bases.
No authoritative hint comes from
American quarters concerning these
developments. Americas spokesmen
continued today to maintain the same
impenetrab1e silence they have oD-
served for two weeks, but in British,
French and Japanese official sources.
no effort is made to conceal the belief
that the main work Of the conference
has been accomplished.
British Are Talking.
According to British, French and
japanese spokesmen here is what can
be expected within the next few days,
perhaps early in the new week:
Announcement of the final accept
ance by Japan of the 5-5-3 naval ratio.
Announcement OF the formation Of
a new world agreement in the Pacific,
under which Great Britain, Japan,
France and the United States agree
to respect each others territorial pos
sessions
governing the Qualifications of the Pa
cific, the effect of which will be to
preserve lie status quo of Japan and
the United States in these waters.
The full extent of the reported
agreement on Pacific Notifications
liably reported that the undertaking
involves a mutual agreement by the
United States and Japan not to add to
their Pacific fortifications except on
the mainla--is of the two countries.
According to British and Japanese
officials, the matter which is holding
up the work now is Tokio's delay in
giving the final o. K. to the 5-5-3
naval ratio. What was officially de-
scribed by the Japanese as partial
reply has already been received, but
the Toxic delegates asserted that some
important part of the message is miss
ing and until it is received the final
words cannot be spoken. The remain
der of the Toxic reply is momentarily
expected.
Out of Par1cy by Christmas.
The progress which is reported in
respect to the main work of the con-
ference led to renewed hope on the
part of the visiting delegations that
thew will be out of the washington
trenches by Christmas. It is not an
ticipated that all the work of the con-
ference will have been completed By
that date. but the visitors believe that
sufficient will have been accomplished
to allow the principal figures to de-
part, leaving to minor officials, per-
haps to a council of Washington am
bassadors, the completion of minor
agreements.
The principal bar to an early get
away, according to foreign spokesmen,
is the Chino-Japan situation, in which
little progress has been made. In
view of the chaotic situation prevail
ing in the Chinese delegation, it was
suggested in both British and Jap
anese circles today that it might be
wise to postpone China's case until p
later meeting of the powers, perhaps
next summer