The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-12-21
TO AVOID DISCORD
Prob a ably Compromise
Will Not Sacrifice Aims
Of United States.
FOUR-POWER PACT
SATISFIES HARDING
Tokyo Said to Agree With
Interpretation Given
By President.

Only a trade that will satisfy
France will save the naval srma-
ment conference from at least a
serious disagreement
That trade. however. seemed in
sight last night And in IL there
will be no sacrifice Of any American
spirit
France wants adequate naval
coast defense. They must OF course
consist OF submarines or something
equally as good. And she intends
that there shall be no interference
with her right 10 construct light
cruisers OF the most improved type
to protect her coasts and her in
sular possessions
That Is the way she approached
yesterdays meeting OF the naval
committee OF fifteen Her spokes-
men characterized the apparent re-
sentiment against the French naval
program as propaganda that had no
foundation in fact.
Viewpoint Clearly stated
There was a very frank stateme nt-
by majority OF the delegates
seated around the table. The rea-
I
nial OF the claimed French rights
were elucidated with a clarity thar
probably never before has been Wit
messed at a gathering Of this sort.
/ And this did great deal 70 clear
/ the air.
Chairman Hughes read IN. text
Of his cablegram TO Premier BRAND
and the lstter's reply. Followed =
general debate in which the French
insisted that their position wa. en-.
tirely accurate. The experts were
heard from but without any real
result The problem. after all. was
1 20 reconcile the French idea. OF
safety with the liberal ideas of the
other nations. After the extended
! debate IL was agreed that the oues-
/ uons Of capital ships. auNiliaries
and merchant marine. were so en-
1 twtned that IL would be necesSar-
Tor the entire naval committee, com
prising the oricisl delegates from
the United States, Great Britain
Jspan. France and Italy. TO mert
10 discuss all three subjects. In
/ consequence an adjournment was
taken until Thursday when the en-
tire committee will be present
Four-Power Pact Que.ttones
Meanwhile there has been a hint
OF difference OF opinion between
President Harding and members OF
his Cabinet concerning the japanese
guarantees under the four-power
pact II has been insisted by GER
tain delegations that the Presidept
has agreed to a situation that viii
later embarass the government. The
-
highest American authority las.
night, is the case
President Harding's views are
understood TO be that Japan is NJ
more included among the Islands q,
the Pacific than the United STATE.
His attitude is, sccording TO admin
istration sources. that in the dis
cussion regarding japan that en-
} pire is considered as complete srl
sustaining and in no sense an
island that can be legislated either
Tor or against in a treaty. The
President has declared to NJ. Dytsf-
tors that he would no more couside-
the four-power treaty appIvinr 10
the mainland OF Japan than Il would
to the United States. aF
May End Interpretations.
hus oi Japan consulate
the domain Of party 70 the pact
instead OF an island in the Pacific,
In the Presidents views.
incidentally Admiral Baron Kate
last night intimated that the Jspa-
nese government viii not try 90
take advantage Of the situation by
demanding that the treaty be in
terpreted to mean that the Jsnane..
D Ia
said that the question Of interprets
: tion was under consideration \,
Tokyo and that an Official announce
ment miF-t be forthcoming after ,
while. when he was asked bv a
Japanese correspondent whether ths
delegation had signed treat,.
which they did not understand he
replied:
There might be a change IN un-
derstandinCs after all OF tn. facts
are available. That is all ] care TO
say now"
However. Il is understood that
Japan will issue a statement thar
will absolutely endorse the views OF
the President in the very near fu-
ture.
Optimistic Of Outcome.
President Harding is Just as or
tmistic concerning the outcome of
the naval armament conference to-
day as he was when he first called
IT, white House circles made thf.
plain last night. The President. n
is understood. believes that if the
conference wrote nothing concrete te-
ly in the way OF an agreement. the
effect OF the meeting would be one
Of the most beneficent things tina {
ever has been given TO the world.
Mr.. Harding does not want 70 m
dulge In any particular praise for
the American delegates or anyone
else on this side OF the Atlantic.
but he is sure that the conference
has brought to the popular mind ~
the peoples of the earth a realizz-
ton of the futility OF od time
methods and in greater deA the
promise born OF the conm"S pc.
of an understanding n
perfectly normal. natus arc -
. spectful way