The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-12-02
Great Britain Tries to Make
Japan Yield.
No Change in Situation Ex-
pected for Days.
JAPS FIRM FOR MORE SHIPS
None of Parties to Fight VIII
Admit Tie-Up.
Far East Conference Almost
Ready to Make Report.

Washington, Dec 2. - The fog es
pessimism which has hung over the
works of the Washington conference
for some days because of Japan's op-
position to accepting the Hughes
naval program. and Chinese dissatis-
faction with the trend of Far Eastern
events. began to lift slightly today and
there were indications that the peace
of the conference is soon to be ac-
CELEBRATED.
Japan's antagonism to the 5-5-3
ratio of capital ships is beginning to
crack. The naval experts and tech
nicians from Toxic are still adamant
in their opposition to the Hughes fig
ures, but positive assurances We're
forthcoming today that the diplomatic
strategists from Toxic are beginning
to "see the light"
Will Maintain Deadlock.
According to the best informed au
thorities, the deadlock" which has
impeded the progress of the confer
ence toward a naval agreement can be
expected to last several days more
and Japan's acceptance of the inevi-
table 5-5-3 program can be looked for
by the middle Of next week.
1t is likely a plenary session will
be arranged by next Wednesday or
Thursday. This will provide an op-
portunity for Japan to announce her
decision publicly and at the same time
to justify her course in delaying so
long the acceptance that was forth
coming at once from her principal
ally, Great Britain.
Progress in Far Eastern affairs.
while slow, is such as to make off
cials of this government decidedly OPP
timistic. China and Japan are fully
launched into the job of adjusting the
dangerous Shantung issue and Chinese
| opposition to private negotiations with
Japan has been overcome by the pres
ence of two American and two British
experts, who are to attend all the ses-
sions in the role of umpires.
The committee on Far Eastern af-
fairs. after a forty-eight hour layoff.
met again today to continue their ef-
forts at working out a system which
will restore to China the maximum de-
gree of administrative and territorial
integrity.
Britain Uses offices.
Hope for an early settlement of the
dispute arising from Japans request
for an increase from so to 20 per cent
in the capital ship tonnage allotted her
under the American limitation plan
centered today in TIE efforts of Great
Britain to bring the Japanese views
into harmony with those of the United
States.
While precisely in what manner
Great Britain has undertaken to use
her influence in solving the naval
ratio problem was not known today, it
was indicated that as an ally of Japan
and having on the other hand ac-
cepted in principle the basic 5-5-3
ratio of the American proposal, she
had found a double interest in the ul-
innate success of the negotiations.
The situation was expected to remain
at a status quo today while the jap
anese delegates in the light of this
new development communicated fur
ther on the question with Toxic. where
it is understood to be under consdera-
tion by the Japanese cabinet as well
as by the diplomatic and advisory
council.
Meanwhile principals on both sides
of the controversy refused to view the
situation as a deadlock. the American
delegates even declining to recognize
Japan's request for the increased ra-
! ito as a formal proposal at this stage,
altho it is known to have been pre-
sented by Baron Kato personally last
Tuesday to Secretary Hughes and Ar
thur J. Balfour. head OF the British
delegation. The American delegates
remained confident that the japanese
request would be withdrawn before
reaching the status of what they
I would regard as a formal proposal.
Far East ParIey Busy.
With the naval situation marking
time, the Far Eastern committee OF
the conference was prepared to re-
sumo its sessions today after suspend
ing yesterday 10 permit OEga nlZatl
of the conference of delegations from
Japan and China on the Shantung
question. That committee which held
only a brief session yesterday was
meeting again today while the ques-
ton pending before the Far Eastern
committee was China's request for
withdrawal of foreign troops stationed
on her soil without treaty sanction.
General assent in principle to that re-
quest was given at the last meeting.
I but the specific problems involved. in
Guiding that of railroad protection n
the Japanese Ieaseholds. remained to
be discussed.