New-York tribune., 1921-12-02
Eventual Acceptance Re-
garded as Assured; Kato
Denies Demand for 20
p. C.. Ratio Was Made
Story of Deadlock
Flatly Repudiated|
Fear They Might Be Left
With No Weapon to Re-
sist Pressure of Peking
By Carter Field

WASHINGTON, Dec. Fearful
that she may be pressed too hard on
the concessions she is making in the
settlement Of the Chinese problems
and on the details of other Pacific
and Far Eastern questions, Japan is
holding back from giving her formal
agreement on the naval ratio. This
IS the explanation advanced in we'll
Informed quarters for the curious
example of marking time which
Japan is giving on the naval arma-
ment reduction proposal.
In this connection Baron Kato.
Japan's representative on the "Big
Three'-Hughes, Balfour and Kato
denied tonight that his delegation
had received any directions from
Toxic to insist on Japan being al
lowed fleet 70 per cent as stron.
as that of the American or British
fleets. He also denied that he had
submitted formal demand to Mr.,
Hughes or to the conference for a
lO-1O-7 ratio, instead of the 5-5-5
ratio of the American plan.
Colleagues Not Consulted
But then the baron amazed his
auditors by declaring that he had
not even laid the report Of the Jap
anese naval experts before his col
leagues on the delegation. He did
not explain this delay beyond midi
eating that he had not had time to
study the report thoroughly.
AS a matter of fact, of course, every
member OF the Japanese delegation is
thoroughly cognizant of every detail OF
the report of the Japanese naval ex-
perts. The naval experts were in close
touch with their chiefs-the members
of the legation-during its prepars-
tion, and no close study on the part
Of any member Of the delegation is be
lieved by any one who has observed
the shrewdness Of the Japanese dele
gates to be necessary.
Baron kato, however, denied vigoI
ously that a deadlock existed. II
this he was absolutely supported
little earlier by a spokesman for the
American delegation, ana little later
by spokesman for the British. Both
the American and British spokesmen
radiated optimism and deplored pesai-
mistic reports which were printed in
many newspapers this morning.
Eventual Agreement Predicted
There is no real ground, in the judg-
ment of we'll informed observers here,
for pessimism so far as the final ae-
ceptance by Japan of the 5-5-3 naval
ratio is concerned. All information.
from Japanese as we'll as British and
American sources--is that the members
of the delegation intend eventually to
accept the ratio.
But the Japanese know they are
playing with fire in these committee
discussions over the Chinese problems.
They are willing, it has been evident,
to go long way in making conces-
sions in China. Their ready agreement
as to withdrawing their extensive post
Office system in the Celestial republic
was big surprise to every one con-
cerned. This willingness to discuss
the removal of their troops, which they
have always contended were absolutely
essential to the preservation of order
in certain parts of China and to the
protection of their interests, was q
similar surprise, though tinctuYed, Of
course, by the point that they were
not SO definite on this.
The same is true of their position
as to giving up the extraterritorial
rights which they had enjoyed with
other nations in China, but which to
the Japanese are probably of far
more Importance than to some of the
other powers which made the same
agreement, just as their concession
with regard to the Chinese postal sys-
TENS was greater in proportion than
those of the other nations.
Chinese Press Advantage
The Chinese, who are very ably rep
resented here, are pressing vigorously
for more and more that Japan is not
willing to give, and in every discussion
Japan, unless she surrenders, is put
in the position of being the one nation
which is unwilling to give China what
appears to be fair chance to develop.
This position, naturally, is distaste-
full to the Japanese. More than that,
they are concerned over the position
before the world in which they may be
left at the conclusion of the confer
ence. They are not worried about
their inability to refuse to grant any
concessions which they firmly intend
to keep. For instance, there is not
the slightest chance of their yielding
anything material. so far as Manchuria
is concerned. This position of being
constantly held up as the only nation
unwilling to grant China any particu-
lar demand. however, is Irritating, and
one which they are eager to end.
Their only whip hand is on the naval
armament reduction, the point on
which the public probably will weigh
the success or failure OF the entire
conference.
Thus the original position Of the
japanese as TO the relation of arma
mcnt reductions on the one hand and
-