New-York tribune., 1921-11-29
Toxic Is Ready Also to-
Withdraw Postal Sys-..
tenn From China and
Discuss Troop Removals
Delegates Believe
Task Is Near End
Full Agreement on Arma-
ment by Christmas
Is Considered Certain
By Carter Field

WASHINGTON, Nov. 28.-Japan
has abandoned her fight FOR an in1
crease in proportionate battleship
tonnage as compared with Great
Britain and the United States. This
does not mean that she has surren-
dered her eager desire TO retain the
new battleship Mutsu, which would
have been scrapped under the
Hughes program, but the fight to
change the proportion of big ships
which she may maintain has been
given up.
The japanese also to-day joined
the other nations in agreeing to
withdraw all foreign postal systems
from China. Japan has much the
largest system, and in making this
promise, following the other agree
ments reached, her delegates feel
that they have gone a long way
toward the satisfactory adjustment
of the whole Chinese problem.
Early Action Predicted
Adjournment of the conference by
Christmas, with everything except
details Of the Chinese question
cleared up, was confidently predicted
by the Japanese tonight, as a result
of these concessions. The japanese
feel that they have gone much fur
ther than any one had a right to ex-
pect them to go in yielding on these
questions. They point to their own
pride in their navy and the tremen-
dous sacrifice they are making in ac.
cepting ratio Of only so per cent
of the American or British navies.
They point to the fact that in China
they had by far the most extensive
postal system of any foreign nation.
From the Japanese point of view.
SO much has been now accomplished,
as result of to-day's developments.
that there is not great deal of i'm
portant negotiating to follow. They
see no reason why the routine work
should not be completed
by Christmas.
This extreme optimism is not fully
accepted by the American delegates,
there is no effort to minimize
the Importance of the Japanese con-
cessjons.
when the lawyers begin to draw
up the wording of the contract" said
may still be lot of midnight oil con-
sumed. However, there is no ground
for pessimism now"
Situation Pleases Harding
1t is known positively that President
Harding is delighted with the develop
ments, and is especially pleased at the
spirit manifested by delegates FROM
whom the pessimistic feared intermin-
able opposition.
In connection with this Japan has
agreed to discuss the proposal to
withdraw all troops from China, and
made known in advance to-day that
she would positively withdraw troops
from Kaochau and Hankow if GER
tain conditions were met. Her repre-
sentatives would not discuss in ad-
vance for publication the general
of withdrawing troops
from China.
There is no thought in the Ameri-
can delegation to minimize the con-
cessions which the other powers are
making in China, but there is present
all the time the thought that conces-
sions by Japan of interests which she
had obtained in her near neighbor
are naturally and obviously of moro
Importance in helping the situation
toward a settlement satisfactory from
the West rn viewpoint than similar
yieldings by other powers.
France Causes No Concern
Such is the optimism over the situ-
alton with regard to the armament
conference, both as to armament and
a solution Of the Far Eastern ques-
tions which will remove them as q
possible cause of war, that there is
very little room for worry about the
French bitter resentment at the idea
of inviting Germany to come to Wash
ington unless the conference should
agree to compel Germany in some way
to keep her Versailles pledges.
The American dei.s@tion is working
on one thing at time and is doing
what it can. The latest French move is
directed against q proposal-that to in
vite Germany in toward the end of tho
present conference--which has not
been made officially at all. 1t was ad-
mitted to be probable at the White
House, but SO far it has not been putt
up for any formal action. The confer
ence is working on the agenda--it is
not considering, except outside the
committee rooms and extremely unof-
ficially. even the thought of the Har-
ding association of nations
Accepting the concessions of Japan
at their face value, there remains
chiefly only the routine though difFs-
cult task of settling the details. So the
conference is already a big success,
whether 1t has made long start toward
the association of nations, which seems
probable, or not.
The point is that the delegates most
~ are thinking FAR more Of the imme-
diate task in hand than of the foundu
tion Of an association of nations. At.
though most of them are exsremeH
hopeful of the latter.
Details of the armament agreement