The Washington herald., 1921-12-10
PLENARY SESSION
TODAY WILL ADOPT
FOUR-POWER PACT
Hughes Will Announce
Text of Agreement
On Far East.
Continued from Paae Que.

Continued from Page One.
yet before they would be able to
publicly declare their position.
On the authority of one of the
best posted conference officials it
can be stated that the japanese
delegation here has made a posi-
tive recommendation to Tokyo TO
agree to the entire American pros
gram. The delegates are convinced
that they can rest their interests
in the hands OF the United States.
In the various negotiations to date
the delegates have found that their
personal explanations Of Far East
ern politics, and their needs for
raw materials to maintain Japa-
nese industry have been received In
| most sympathetic manner. And
IT was because he realized this that
President Harding. in his speech to
the Red Cross. declared that the
conference was to succeed beyond
our fondest hopes"
f-ithary session n surprise.
Announcement of the plenary ses-
sion and the promise that the mys-
terry that has enshrouded the con-
terence for a week would be cleared
up came as surprise. During the
afternoon the highest administra-
tion sources had admitted that they
could throw no light on the nego-
tiations. 1t was very carefully ex-
planned that the delicacy Of the sit
uattoR made it impossible for
American spokesmcn to say any
thing
Secretary Hughes, Mr.. Balfour.
Admiral Baron Kato and NJ Viviani
had held lengthy conference. But
they declined to say a word regard
ing what went on behind the closed
and very carefully guarded doors Of
the office. In fact they rather re-
sented questioning.
Secretary Hughes, during the aft
ernoon. expressed the hope that
there would be an end to the mys-
tery soon. But he had no word for
guidance for his questioners.
Await Tokyo. Answer.
Admiral Kato insisted point blank
late in the day that he had had no
word from anyone in Tokyo that
would allow a positive statement.
1t was known that he and his as
sociates had been in receipt Of mes
sages from their home government.
But he insisted that he had had no
positive reply on the naval ratio
problem
Finally late in the evening NJ.
Fiviani. chief of the French dele
cation. quietly informed a number
of his friends that il had been
agreed that there would be a plen-
ary session at IL o'clock today He
sam that he supposed that the four
power agreement would be an
nounced and that there would be
an opportunity afforded to let the
world know just what has been
done to date.
OmcisI Cnn Issued.
Shortly afterward the official
call for today's session was issued.
Il was issued by Mr.. Hughes after
he had been assured by NJ Eiviani
that France was willing to agree
TO the proposed pact Niviani. with
Ambassador Jusserand as inter-
prefer. visited Mr.. Hughes in the
state Department and read to him
his instructions from Premier
BRAND. which had reached him in
the late afternoon. ON leaving. tie
French chief delegate was very
jubilant- He stated that while he
could not comment on his con-
versatiOns with Mr.. Hughes he was
extremely confident that complete
agreement on most of the disputed
points was in sight. 1t was under
stood to he his opinion that all of
the moOted problems could be set
tied by next Tuesday night.
Hopes to sail Wednesday.
In assuming this position NJ.
Niviani declared that he was very
hopeful that he would be able. with
many OF the members OF his dele
cation. to sail for France on the
Paris from New York next Wednes-
day at noon. This plan. other mem
bers of the delegation later said,
was in part predicted upon the be-
lief that the conference would dele
gate a great part of its minor work
to experts and to committees of
resident Ambassadors and would
take a recess before the end of the
month until April when II would
reassemble here to complete all
unfinished business.
Under such an agreement the
problem Of fixing the French and
Italian naval ratio of capital ships
and the agreement on auNiliaries
would be deferred for some time
When il was explained to Ameri-
can delegates that this was the
view entertained in French quarters
no comment was obtainabIe.
Congress to Pass on Pact.
Before an announcement of TO-
days plenary session was made
there came the direct statement
from one of the chief spokesmen
of the American delegation that
Congress will be afforded complete
opportunity to pass upon the agree
ments reached here. Nothing will
be attempted. il was explained. that
will not be entirely within the limits
OF constitutional practice. There
will be no evasion of the issue. it
was declared
Whether Congressional approval
will be sought by resolution, or
whether, after all, some treaties of
necessity must be arranged for. re-
mains a carefully guarded secret
Approval by resolution was believed
to be the probable course, as such
. approval would be entirely by ma
jority vote But Senators who are
in the confidence of the President,
and who have canvassed the situa-
ton. have assured him that any
treaty agreed on at this conference
would have less than ten votes cast
against il. And the members of the
American advisory committee, who
have been entrusted with the task