Evening star., 1921-11-14
big Five" Confer
To Map uture
Proceedings.
SECOND PARLEY
ON TOMORROW
Officials Flooded With
Messages of Con-
gratulations.
BY n, O. MESSEN GER.

concern" was the comment OF one
observer today on the conference on
limitation of armament and Pacific
and far eastern questions.
The flying start toward progress
which Secretary Hughes gave 1t
Saturday was maintained in COM
mittee activities today and in the con-
ferring of members of national dele
cations and technical staffs. To-
morrow the conference will be re-
sumed at IL o'clock. and it is ex-
pected that a program, the result of
today's committee meetings. will
forecast the drift and scope Of the
work for the immediate future at
least.
At IL o'clock this morning the
heads of the American. British,
French. Italian and Japanese dele
cations met in the Pan American
Union building to shape a program
on Limitation of armaments. At 3 in
the afternoon these delegates, to-
gether with the heads of the delega-
tions of China. Belgium, the Neither
lands and Portugal. met to take up
program for considering Pacific
and far eastern questions.
At the same time the advisory COM
mittee to the American delegates met
to appoint subcommittees among
whom to distribute it's duties.
ConsratuIatOry Messages.
The attendance for tomorrow's ses-
sion of the conference will be limited
to practically the same official and
governmental set which attended the
out today for members of the Senate
and House, the diplomatic corps, the
foreign delegations, the Supreme
Court. the cabinet, the American ad-
visory committee and technical staff.
The four boxes will be held for those
who occupied them Saturday.
At the State Department and the
White House today 1t was said that
deluge of congratulatory messages
and letters was pouring in. approving
through its head, Secretary Hughes,
and acting with the Presidents sane
tion. making the concrete and definite
proposal of naval holiday and re-
duction.
Issues Closely Allied.
Discussion Of the American plan OF
reduction brings out the fact which
is expected to become more promi-
nent as negotiations develop that
there is very close connection between
the proposed sacrifice of American
naval strength and the disposition of
the Pacific and far eastern questions.
Many observers and commentators
appreciate that also involved in the
equation is a question which is not
on the agenda of the conference. but
which Is Of potent influence-the
maintenance or dissolution of the
British and Japanese alliance.
With such an alliance in existence.
the combined fleets of Japan and
Great Britain would overshadow the
American naval strength and it is not
believed that American public and
official sentiment would tolerate such
condition. Over this question, the
conference lacks jurisdiction, how
ever.
Next Steps Of Agenda.
Inevitably the Pacific and far east
ern questions will loom large and
attract more attention as their inti-
mate bearing upon the Limitation of
armament problem becomes more ap-
parent. After an agreement has been
reached on the naval limitation. with
it's extent definitely specified and in
terms set forth, the next item on the
f1llment. of the agreement. That is
regarded as an important considera-
tion. how the terms are to be en-
forced.
Pacific and far eastern questions, the
first on the agenda will be Questions
relating to China" as tersely stated
in the official text Of the agendaa;
which has been assented to by all
ciples to be applied in their determi-
nation must first be determined and
next there must be found specif1ca-
tions for their application.
The subjects to be brought forth
For con nsideration are outlined only in
the broadest way. Under one head
ing comes territorial integrity. under
another administrative integrity;
then comes the "open door" which is
given official Interpretation by the
agenda text as meaning equality of
commercial and industrial oppor-
tunity."
Concessions. monopolies or prefer
entail privileges must be taken up
as a distinct branch of the delibera-
tions of committees and Of the con-
ference Development of railways,
Including plans relating to the
Chinese eastern railway Is an i'm
Of preferential rates. The status Of
existing commitments will engage
serious attention.
Agreement EXPECTED.
Now, the foregoing topics relating
to China are not confined to that
country, but the same will apply in
the case of Siberia, as they bear upon
Siberia and are related to China. The
Siberian problem. however. is not ex-
China's vexing questions. The islands
| of the Pacific which are under man
date will occupy further serious at
tention.