New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-28
Spokesman for Admins
tration Calls Accept
ance of Invitation "a
Very Graceful Thing
Wood Opposed to
Freeing FiIipinos
General Sends Data That
viii Have Important
Bearing on Conference
By Carter Field

DeaFEnS ON OOnf erenCG
By Carter Field
WASHINGTON, July 27.-Prog-
ress toward armament limitation by
all the big powers and, perhaps even
more important, toward a happy (
solution Of all the points of contro-
versy between this country and
Japan, took a notable step to-day
with the receipt of the formal accept
ance from Japan of President Har-
dlng's invitation to attend the Wash
l1gton conference.
Almost coincident with Japan's
acceptance the President received a
preliminary report from Major Gen.
eral Leonard Wood on the military
and naval situation in the Far East,
and particularly on the Philippine
Islands. This preliminary report is
flatly against independence for the
islands, certainly for long time to
come. The report was not made |
public, but is known to contain much
information as to the military stu
alton in the Far East, in addition to
It's comments on the Philippine ISL
ands.
Good Start Assured
1t is difficult to exaggerate the
satisfaction with which the Japanese
acceptance was hailed in official cir
cles. Despite several qualifying
reservations made by Japan as to the
subjects to be discussed, the Adl1lin- |
istration is delighted that President |
harding's plan for conference on
armament limitation and Pacific and
Far Eastern questions is now as
sured at least Of an auspicious start.
The Japanese acceptance follows a
great deal of Informal negotiations be-
tween Secretary of State Hughes and
the japanese Foreign Office, which oc-
Cured chiefly in conversations between
MI Hughes and Ambassador Shidehara,
but also in conversations through
Charge d'Affaires Bell, at Toxic, who
acted on profuse cable advices sent him (
by Mr.. Hughes.
At first the Japanese were exceeding
ly fearful of entering into discussion
Of so many questions which she re-
CARDS as vital to her and on which she
suspected that practically all the other |
participants-even Great Britain, with
whom she had an alliance-would SYM
pathize with the contentious of the
United States.
"a Very Graceful Thing"
This applies notably to the open door
in China, to Yap, to other mandates,
particularly the Marshall and Caroline
islands; to Shantung, to Saghalien
Island, against the occupation of the
upper half of which this government
though not this Administration
protested, and most of all, to the ques-
ton of Japanese immigration into
white countries.
In accepting, even with the reserva-
tions made in the last paragraph of
the Japanese memorandum, Japan, ac-
cording to high spokesman of the Ad-
mlnistration, just after a conference
with the President, "is doing a very
graceful thing"
Earnest efforts were made by Ad-I
ministration officials tonight in dis
cussing the situation with newspaper
correspondents to prevent too much
emphasis being placed on the reserva-
tlons imposed by Japan on her accept
ance. The important words in that
connection in the Japanese acceptance
are:
I'm order to insure the success OF
the conference the Japanese govern
ment deems it advisable that the aeenda
tEereof should be arranged in accorQ-
ance with the main object of the dis-
cussions as above defined, and that in-
PRODUCTION therein of problems such as
are OF sole concern TO certain partic-
ular powers or such matters that may
be regarded accomplished facts should
be scrupulously avoided
All Interested in China
1t was officially pointed out in this
| connection that surely no question ON
which this country was on record as
naVlng protested could be regarded as
accomplished facts" This would dis
pose of the open door in China, Yav
and rights of this country as one of
the Allied and associated powers in all
mandates, which includes not only Yap
but the Marshall and Caroline islands.
1t would also apply to Saghalien ISL
and. but not to Shanturg. unless the
verbal assurances of japanese officials
! should be considered as offsett;ng the
actual text of the Versailles Treaty
provision
There are some who suspect that the
words "of sole concern to certain par-
ticular powers" are intended to bar the
Japanese Chinese situation. 1t was
pointed out in reference to this, how
ever, that this government is on record
as insisting upon the open door in
/ China, and further that the Chinese
situation is one which is of great i'm
terest 20 every large power.
Emphasis was laid by officials, how-
ever, on the point that Japans ex-
pressed desire that the subjects to bs
discussed should be limited to those
directly affecting the main object is
also the desire of this government. and
presumably of the other countries which
will participate. Great Britain. France.