The Washington herald., 1921-07-15
RESTRICTS
PARLEY SUBJECT
TOLAIIIT ON ARMS
Note of Acceptance Fails
To Mention the Far
East.

Japan has come only half way in
responding to President Harding's
invitation for her participation IN
the proposed international confer
ence at Washington on Limitation Of
armsments and Pacific and Far
Eastern problems which menace
peace
Responding yesterday to this gov
ernments proposal, the Japanese
government states that it would be
delighted to participate in the con-
ference on Limitation OF armaments.
and stopped there. Japan, accord
ing TO the State Department, was
silent on the other phase OF discus
sion, which is regarded by the
United States and the other nations
to participate, as Of the most vital
Importance.
See Breakers Ahead.
Limitation OF armaments. il is
agreed. must be cantingent upon
adjustment of the problems Of the
Pacific and the Far East. II Japan
is going to rebel against considera-
tion OF these issues there may be
serious breakers ahead for the
world Statesmen who are about TO
enter the Washington conference
with high hopes for reducing the
expensive arma ments of the world.
The President and Secretary
Hughes are known. however, to be
confident that Japan eventually will
agree TO participate in the whole
program. So confident are they
that they are ignoring Japan's fall
ure to respond to the second section
of the American invitation and IL
was announced that the oficial call
for the conference would be issued
by the President in the near future,
probably within two neeks. China.
the last of the powers to be heard
from, having replied favorably ano
unqualified yesterday.
Look for Aessiesee.ee.
e The State Department made Il
clear, although not publishing the
text of the reply. that the response
did not express any "unwillingness''
to participate in consideration of
the Eastern questions.
Notwithstanding the optimism of
the administration, the reply from
Japan is regarded as significant in
some quarters here. But even those
who believe that Japan may insist
upon stipulations or qualifications
before agreeing to participate in
the whole program outlined by the
President, do not think that she can
long stand out against Great Brit
ain, France, Italy and the United
States. Great Britain, with the
Anglo-J&panese alliance hanging in
the balance, il is recognized. has a
formidable weapon of influence over
the Far Eastern nation.
There have been reports received
here unofficially that the Japanese
statesmen wish to have an under
standing that there will be no immi-
grafton decision at the conference
which would be against the inter-
ests of Japan. Another obstacle to
prompt acceptance by Japan OF the
invitation to participate in discus
sions of the eastern issues. is said
to be the fact that China. although
not one of the interallied group,
has been invited to a place at the
council table. Japan would prefer, IL
is believed, that issues such as
Shantung and other questions in
volving China. would be considered
by the big powers only.
Plans IadeaaIte.
Nothing has been done yet re-
garding detailed plans for the con-
ference. Each nation is to be linn
tied in the number of men who will
actually take part in the discus
sions, but this number has not been
fixed and probably will not be un-
I'll the matter has been considered
with the nations concerned. But the
motive will be to keep the number
as small as possible: probably not
more than four or ive from each
country.