Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-07-14
III. S. FrOwns on British Sug.
gestiOn of, Taking up
Far Eastern Issues
TO CONSIDER ALL
Confident As To Entry of Japan Into
Conference Views of Japanese are
Given

Washington, July 14.-sugges-
tions officially but informally made
that the disarmament conference
called by President Harding to meet
in Washington be preceded by a
preliminary parley in London OF
elsewhere, as suggested by Great
Britain, for the purpose of arriving
at an understanding regarding Pa
ciGc problems. are not favorably en-
tertained by this Government
This was learned yesterday fol-
lowing the announcement that Italy
had formally and cordially accepted
the conference proposal II a COM
munication received by the State
Department, Great Britain and
France already had signified their
acceptance Of the invitation. Japan
and China alone remain to be heard
from.
For MANY reasons: the Washing
ton Government does not look with
favor upon double barre!ed dis
armament conference, q preliminary
session to deal with one phase OF
the matter and a final session with
another. The foremost thought is
that the first might easily preJudi"e
and embarrass the second, render
ing the whole proceeding valueless.
Then, too, it is the view OF Amer
lean officials that the issues involved
are of a character demanding con-
sideration as whole. Before dis
armament may be brought about 1t
IS nointed out, the causes which
move nations to arm themselves
must be measurably removed. There
must be complete reinsurance that
future friction between the military
and naval powers is to Ire avoided
before SUCH powers will consent 10
limit their armaments.
This, it is explained, is the con-
trolling reason why the Far Eastern
question was brought into the con-
ference. And because of the i'm
mediate relations OF such questions
to the proposal that the powers DIS
arm themselves, this Government
feels that it would be wiser to con
slider them all at once rather than
at separate sittings OF statesmen
The fact that neither Japan nor
China has indicatfl, formally or ln>
formally, rs willingness to partic'>
pate ia the c.rnference is not regard
ed by the State Department as sig
nificant. There mas been some de-
Law in transmitting the invitation
to the Peking government, it was
suggested yesterday, which may ae-
count for he failure Of the Chinese
to respond.
With regard to Japan, it is the
conviction Of American officials
that she will come in due time and
no impat;nece is felt as to the d..
lay in acknowledging the Presi-
ent's invitation. 1t is quite under.
stood by State Department officials
that the Japanese. having great
deal at staks, will want to conside,
carefclly all phases of the matte
before announcing a decision.
The present point of view OF tn
Japanese Government toward tn
whole proceeding is: In first plac
the japanese. if Trey participate
will do So wsh certain menta! res
ervations, c.en though no communi
Gated reservations are laid down i
advance.
The plair. reason for this, is tn
serious distrust in the mind of TIC
kio as to the purpose of bringin
the Pacific problcm into disarm
ament conference, plus the decisio
to invite Chinesd participation
japanese statesmen are not sur
that this is not aatrap set for the,
by the occidental powers-a schenl
to embarass them before the worl
should it be found that Japan is
disagreement with the conclusio,
the conference may: reach.
1t was earned yesterday that J,
pan received it's Invitation to Il
conference in~ two installments II
Continued on Page Five)