Evening star., 1921-12-05
PARLEY PROGRESS
PROVING SOURCE
OF GRAT|F|cAT|0N
CompIexity of Some Details
Considered No Cause
of Apprehension.
BY n. O. MESSENGER.

1t can be stated today upon high
administration authority that sincere
qualification is felt over the way the
arms conference is progressing, and
that despite the complexity of the
present state of some of the details
there is no occasion to apprehend that
they will not be worked out satisfac-
torily.
The messages which the cables are
between the TOXIC govern
rtasnt and the sJHpanese delegation to
the arms conference are framing the
answer Of Japan to the American
naval limitation proposal. When that
u forthcoming 1t is expected that
progress win resume its march in the
work Of the conference.
Meantime, although formal meetings
Of committees are suspended until
Wednesday. in the absence of number
of important members Of the British
delegation, time Is not being wasted:
there are many informal exchanges of
views and suggestions among the
members of the several delegations.
Increase in aFeelers."
1t is observable that at the moment
there is an increase in the number
and wide variety of "feelers" thrown
out touching various phases of the
far east questions under considera-
tion, unofficial suggestions which
come in a way to render them easily
repudiated If ill received or later to
r h,n
hold.
To the layman the far east situa-
tion presents a maze of conflicting
of historical data, of treaty stipula-
tions asserted to have potential bear
ing to such an extent that only the
main topics and heads are likely to
be intelligently followed
One present concern of the guiding
be to keep the work within the chan
mel banks of the original agenda, and
prevent its spreading out like a flood
in Chinese river over a 1imitlesS
area.
See Alliance Abandoned.
One feature of expansion from the
initial boundaries Is expected, how
ever. to be shown in result il not in
the record of the conference.-the
abandonment of the Anglo-Japanese
alliance and its supersedure by other
plans for preservation of peace in the
far east. =
Proposed enlargement of the scope
Of the conferences work comes for the
moment in the shape Of ."feelers."
suggestions going into the realm Of
economics and finance. The fact that
they Of necessity will take on politi-
cal significance renders it desirable
to proceed cautiously.
In all circles surrounding the con-
ference feeling of relief will be ex-
perienced the moment Japan an
nounces her expected acquiescence in
the American naval Limitation plan
1t is assumed that Japan is now con-
sidering what advantages may be
gained in the disposition of the far
ment of certain class of her peoples
and politicians at the limitation of
her navy.
May Tie Up Decision.
In some quarters the suggestion is
made that Japan may tie up final
decision on the navy ratio until she
has gained her points in the COM
pensating desideratum. The situa-
tion is regarded as one of great
delicacy in this regard, and appre-
ciating this, many of the leading men
in the conference are Withholding
comment or criticism upon Japan's
attitude.
At the present stage it is regarded
that pacification and moderation in
utterance are golden, like silence Is
said to be. Such a policy would not
be misconstrued. 1t is said. as abate-
the stand which the United States
and Great Britain have taken on the
naval ratio, that having been demon
strated to be unassailable In logic
and mathematics.