Paragould soliphone. (Paragould, Ark.) 1918-1950, 1921-12-05
FAVORABLE
TURN in THE
arms PARLEY
New Stage in Negotiations
Reported Following Meet
ing of Big Three-Dec
sion Not Yet Made.

SION lTCA Cb lvh0QGs
washington, Dec. "a new stage
in the negotiations over the ques-
ton of naval ratio, described as
very favorable" is said to have
been reached at the conference be-
tween the Representatives Of the
United States, Great Britain and Ja-
pan.
After the conference between Sec
rotary Hughes, Admiral Baron Kato
and Arthur j. Balfour, the Japanese
delegation Immediately began COM
municating with Toxic.
This official communique was is
sued:
Arthur J. Balfour, Admiral Baron
Kato and Secretary Hughes met at
the State Department this evening,
and had an extended interview with
respect to the naval proposals. No
comment on the interview can be
made at this time
AS the ally of Japan and at the
same time supporter OF the prin-
ciples that underly the American ra-
tito, Great Britain occupies posi-
ton of peculiar influence. Wide
spread qualification was expressed
when it became known that Mr..
Balfour had visited Baron Kato and
conferred at length with him on the
subject. An authorized spokesman
Of the British delegation revealed
clearly the purpose Of his govern
ment to use it's best efforts for
a solution.
Balfour Is Active.
Great Britain" he said, s'has
tried to do everything within her
power to bring about settlement
of disputed questions between other
powers. / have no doubt that Mr..
Balfour has used his best efforts to
find plan which will meet the
views Of both America and Japan"
In many quarters there is a dis
position to regard last nights con-
ference of the "big three as bear
ing close relation to the conversa-
tion Thursday between Mr.. Balfour
/ and Baron Kato. There are indi-
cations that Japan's attitude had
not been fully defined by the ex-
changes between the Japanese dele
CATION and Toxic, however, and one
Japanese spokesman said after the
sbig three" conference that 1t would
stake some time to solve the ratio
question.
Orientals Meet Again.
During the day the American del
egation also held long session to
discuss the naval problem, while
the Far Eastern committee debated
without result The question of with
drawing foreign troops from China.
The Chinese and Japanese, in a
separate meeting, got down to busi-
ness in their new effort to settle the
Shantung controversy. A broadly
drawn declaration OF general policy
on the troop question may be adopt
ed in the Far Eastern committee to-
day, but the shantung discus
sions were adjourned until Monday
after the two sides had set forth
the general outlines of their posi-
tions.
The Japanese prediction that no
naval ratio agreement is Immediate
/ ly in prospect was given further
weight by the announced purpose OF
Mr.. Balfour and several other mem-
bers of the British delegation to go
to New York tonight for a visit
that will keep them away until
Tuesday or Wednesday,. Meantime
| it is expected that the Japanese
will further communicate with their
home government, SO that Baron
Kato can lay more detailed state
ment before his associates of the
I"Big Three next week.
AS the naval negotiations slow
down there is growing speculations
in conference circles whether In
the end the Far Eastern and naval
problems will not become interlaced.
1t has been the apparent hope OF
conference officials to keep the two
discussions separate. but there has
been more than one indication that
there may be an attempt to make q
naval agreement in some degree con-
ditional on solution of tn politi-
cal relationships of the Orient.