Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-11-17
MAY
DECLINE INTO
SECOND PLACE
Philippe MilIet, Petit Parisien,
Sees Easy Success for
Conference.
EVEN JAPS PLEASED
By PHILIPPE MILLET.
Foreign Editor Paris Petit Parisien.


Special to Indiana Daily Times
and Philadelphia Public Ledger
WASHINGTON. Nov. 1.-THE two
great facts which appeared at the very
first sitting of the conference have but
become more apparent since.
I. II is clear we soon shall reach COM
plete agreement on the question of the
limitation of naval ornaments.
. The question of the Far East tends
to be removed more and more to a rela-
lively secOnd-rate place, where it viii
become harmless.
So far as the limitation of naval arma-
ments is concerned. it is incredible GER
tain people should not have seen how
advantageous the American proposals
were bound to be to the main powers con-
cerned. Although the procedure adopt
ed to put forward these proposals may
have seemed disconcerting to European
diplomatists, representatives of the Brit
ish Empire could not be displeased with
a scheme which definitely maintains the
British navy in the first rank Tie sug-
gested naval holiday could not increase
unemployment In England, as England
already practically has stopped building
ships. Similarly, the scrappfng Of a GER
tain number Of naval units viii not Gre
ate any difficulty as far as establish
ments are concerned, as the American
proposals allow England TO keep % cap
ital ships, while the actual number of
British capital ships in full commission
today does not exceed twelve.
JAPS SHOULD
BE PLEASED.
On the japanese side, satisfaction cannot
be less marked. The proportion from
three to five should be sufficient to in
sure the defense of japan, because the
japanese fleet is concentrated instead OF
Icing divided as is the American fleet,
and moreover, as the only strong naval
bases in the Western Pacific are japanese
bases.
For these reasons, it is already certain,
he naval agreement will be easily arrived
at. Such amendments as may be pre-
sented to the American scheme, as for
instance, the British amendments on the
continuity of shipbuilding or the
necessity Of still further reducing the
number of submarines are not as many
excuses preparatory TO a refusal, but on
the contrary will be suggested only in
the sincere desire to better the scheme
and to facilitate the agreement
1t is scarcely necessary to emphasize
the importance Of the service thus rem
dered by the United States TO civilization
by stopping for the first time the race in
ornaments. Though the limitation Of
land ornaments is unfortunately impos-
sible in the present state Of the world
and in view Of the responsibilities bear
ing upon France, il is still permitted TO
hope day will come when the precedent
created with respect to the relatively
simple problem of naval armaments may
be utilized as far as the land armies are
concerned.
OBSTACLES MAY
DISAPPEAR.
1t is more and more probable. on the
other hand. that the Far Eastern question
will take up a much less important place
than first had been believed. 1t seems
certain Mr.. Hughes will not add TO his
speech On disarmament a speech on China
and Siberia. Moreover, the procedure
adopted Ia respect to the Far Eastern
question is equally significant. A little
time ago, Mr.. Hoover. who has had per
sOnal experience in China, but who does
not seem to be IN favor OF a radical anti
japanese policy, expressed the opinion
that the best method for the conference
TO follow wcdld be to classify the prob
lens relaCing TO China by taking first
those on which an agreement could be
essily reached and by pOstponing If -neces-
sary until some other occasion the exami-
agreement today was impossible. AS a
result Of a suggestion presented by NJ.
BRAND, this is precisely the method
adopted by the committee OF the nine
powers which holds its first sitting to
morrow.
The consequence, however. IS clearly
that the danger OF a clash between the
United States and Japan inside the con
ference has been considerably lesseneL
Even should certain members Of the
American delegation retain the intention
Of forcing japan to the wall, the position
taken by the American Government on
the armament question would prevent
them from succeeding. The great mass
OF the American public never would
understand why the proposals for the
limitation OF ornaments should be
finally dropped simply because japan
would have for instance refused to with
draw her police forces from the eastern
Chinese railway in northern Manchuria.
sHANTUNG EASILY
DISPOSED OF.
The only question which might create
deep emotion in America is that of Shan
tung but everything indicates Japan is
ready TO make important concessions on
this point, as well as in respect to China
proper as differentiated from Eastern
Mongonia and Manchuria. In the present
state of things, it is doubtful if the
American Government will do more than
content themselves to reserving or refus-
ing its consent should an agreemen: WITH
japan appear difficult on certain matters.
The attitude thus adopted by the
American Government on the two main
questions makes it, therefore, possible
TO hope that a general understanding will
be framed, as a result Of the conference,
between the main powers Of the : lcifc.
Though an alliance or merely q per-
manent partnership is probably incOn-
ceivable between the United States and
any other power. a de faetO cooperation
for The maintenance Of peace in the Far
East IS probable between the United
States and Great Britain, without such a
combination being in the least threaten