Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1921-12-09
5-5-3 ARRANGEMENT TO
BE ADOPTED AT
OPEN MEETING
SCRAP JAP TREATY
OPTIMISM PREVAILS AS CONFER
ENCE HEADS INTO SETTLE
MENT OF PACIFIC QUESTIONS
QuADRUPLE UNDERSTANDiNG
LOOKED ON WITH FAVOR.

Washington, Dec. $50 encourag-
ing situation has developed in the
arms negotiations that some of the
delegates believe an open session of
the conference will be called next
week to announce agreement on the
5-5-3 naval ratio and the quadruple
arrangement proposed as substitute
for the Aglo-Japanese alliance.
Washington, Dec. 9.--(by the A. P)
The rapidly moving arms confer
ence had reached a point of compara-
tive pause today with the far eastern
committee in adjournment until to-
morrow and the next important step
in the negotiations on naval ratio and
the proposed four power treaty ap-
parently waiting on a definite state
ment of the attitude of the Japanese
government.
Meanwhile the Japanese and Chi
nese delegations were scheduled to
hold another session today of their
separate conference on the Shantung
question discussion of the restoration
to China of the public properties in
the Japanese leasehold, there having
been continued yesterday without final
disposition.
Fortifcations In Limelisht.
AS major feature In the prospee-
tive agreements the question of limi-
tation of Notifications and naval bases
in the Pacific islands had been brought
into prominence for the first time TO-
day. Altho the subject has not adj
vanced to the stage of formal ex-
changes the American delegates have
given assurance to the Japanese that
IL would be considered as a natural
collorary of the naval reduction plan
and indications point to an ultimate
agreement on the principle of aban-
doning further development OF Island
defenses.
Press reports that the Japanese gov
ernment had decided to accept the
four power treaty plan for preserving
peace In the Pacific conditional on an
agreement on the naval ratio and fur
ther application of the American
"four points" to China were accepted
here as further emphasizing the inter
dependence of the negotiations on
those problems and as supporting the
opinion that they would be advanced
simultaneously to the point OF a gem
eral understanding on all.
Senaratel treaties and agreements
then would remain to be drawn up to
cover them.
Wait Word From French
Definite word was awaited from the
French government today as well as
from TOXIC as to acceptance of the
principle of the proposed four power
treaty. An early favorable response
from France was looked for in reply
to the recommendation of its delegates
that their government accept a place
in the new arrangement.
The British government is under
stood to have already accepted the
proposal In principle and the Ameri-
can delegates have proceeded to the
point of indicating a willingness to
discuss details.
Washington, Dec 9.--The Japanese
cabinet has been called to meet to-
morrow, probably to take final action
on the naval ratio question, which
has been submitted to that body by
the Japanese arms delegates
Pacific Limitations.
Washington. Dec, .3.--While the ex-
act nature of the forthcoming an
nouncement cannot be forecast it
seems probable that in addition to
the naval ratio in the four power
plan 1t may embody some formal
pronouncement of the principles on
which, the conference expects to lin
1t Notifications and naval bases in
the Pacific.