The citizen., 1921-08-04
Acceptance by Japan Makes
Way Clear for the Confer.
ence in Washington
SILESA CRISIS PASSING
France and Britain Reach Agreement
and Germany Is Warned--Hard-
ino's Plan for Financial Relief
Of Railroads, Farmers and
Cattle Raisers.
BY EDWARD w. PickARD.


With a mind not vet quite at eass
In the matter. japan has sent word
that she will accept President Hard
ings Invitation TO the Washington
conference to discuss limitation Of
ornaments and questions Of the Pa
cific and the Far East. But this Is to
be with certain reservations. These
are expressed In the closing part Of
Tokyo's latest note to Washington,
which reads:
The japanese government have
been made aware through the COM
Nunications and the published state
nent OF the American government and
The conversations between the secre-
tary Of state and Baron Shidehara
that the proposition of the American
government to discuss the Pacific and
Far Eastern problems Is based or. the
close bearing they may have on tho
question Of limitation Of ornaments,
which Is the original and principal aim
Of the conference, and that, therefore,
the main object Of discussing these
u
standing In regard to general princi-
pies and policies In the Pacific and Far
East.
in order to insure the success Of
the conference. the Japanese govern
ment deem II advisable that the
agenda thereof should be arranged In
accordance with the main object Of the
discussions as above defined, and that
Introduction therein Of problems such
as are of sole concern to certain par
ticular powers. or such matters a.
may be regarded accomplished facts.
should be -scrupulously avoided"
or course. among what Japan con-
siders accomplished facts" are the
cessiOn o. Shantung to Japan and the
Zap mandate. But our State depart
ment is confident the japanese can be
satisfied In the drawing up Of tho
agenda for the conference, and there
fore is now preparing the formal in
vitatlOns to the powers.
There is chance that some Of the
British dominions, which consider
respects. will kick up little trouble
because the British empire Is to be
represented as unit, with only one
vote. Australia already is wailing that
she Is entitled to vote as nation
on the Pacific problems. Probably
New Zealand, and possibly Canada.
feel the same way. Rene viviani and
Albert Sarrault, minister Of colonies.
are to represent France at the con-
ference; and Premier BRAND also may
come.
No decided opposition to holding the
conference In Washington has devel-
ored, but the date Of its opening re-
mains to be settled. The United States
tentatively mentioned November IL,
Arinistice day. because It would be
sentimentally suitable, but again the
British dominions protest. Many Of
their legislative bodies are In session
during the fall months, and as their
premiers wish to be present at the
conference, they are urging that q
later date be selected for Its assem-
bling. 1t may be they can be satisfied
by preliminary informal consultations
between Pacific powers which will en-
able them to put their views on rec
ord.
Through mutual concessions
France yielding the most-Great Brit
ain and France have reached an un-
derstanding on the Upper Silesian
question. and the threatened break T.
the entente will not occur just
anyhow. France abandoned her
tention OF sending immediate re-
forcements TO the Sileslan garrison
and agreed 10 a meeting Of the inter-
allied supreme council In Paris AAu-
gust 4. But she insisted the question
OF strengthening the allied forces In
the region must first be settled, and
also warned the British that any hos
tile act against the French troops or
the Poles In the disputed area would
result In the immediate occupation OF
the Ruhr basin, regardless Of allied
action.
Premier Lloyd George. on his part.
to a meeting Of experts TO
into the Silesian problem. and
also conciliated the French by giving
the German government a sharp ~
bun. When France was preparing to
send more troops 10 Silesia. she asked
the Germans to supply the trsnspor>
tation. Berlin sent q nots to London.
asking II the British indorsed this
demand. To this Downing strest ~
piled curtly that II was an interallied
sffair and not discpssible with outsid-
ers. British Ambassador Lord DAber-