The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1921-12-15
AMERICA GRANTS
TOXIC CONDITION
U, 5. to Keep Two Newer Ships Il
Japan Keeps MuIsu,
ONE POINT YET UNSETTLED
Modification Desired by Great Brit
ain to Balance This Concession
Made to Japan.

Washington, Dec. 15.-Agreement on
the principal issues involved In limita-
ton Of naval armament was under.
stood to be practically at hand as the
Big Three of the Washington con-
ference went into session at the state
department..
AS the naval big three went into
conference, an American spokesman
described the naval negotiations ms
making very good progress and it
was indicated that the likelihood Of
an early decision had been measur-
ably increased by the receipt from
Toxic of additional instructions en-
towering the japanese plenipoten-
iarieS to effect a settlement.
The American delegates, it was said
officially, had agreed to the Japanese
reservation for substitution Of the
new battleship Mutsu for the old -
inch gun ship Setsu, on condition that
the United States be permitted under
the limitation proposal to retain the
newer battleships Colorado and Wash
ington, in place Of the Delaware and
North Dakota.
The final detail remaining to be ar
ranged, it was added, was the modifi-
cation desired by Great Britain in the
armament limitation program to bal
&nce against substitution by Japan Of
the Mutsu and by the United States
"f the two newer ships: This detail
was expected to be arranged at the
meeting
The limitation program, as finally
evolved, 1t was stated, will provide
for a condition of status quo as to
Pacific Notifications, the agreement
leaving Hawaii, the Island Of Japan,
Australia and New Zealand free from
the provisions.
American acceptance Of the Japa-
nese substitution Of the Mutsu was
agreed to virtually at a conference
between Secretary Hughes and the
American naval advisers following the
meeting of the big Three" Compile
ton of the agreement on the part Of
he American delegation was accom-
plished.
The Chinese delegation asked of the
powers represented in the Far
ern committee of the Washington
ference that the famous twenty-6He
demands treaty of 1915 be abrogated.
The Chinese also ask that all trea-
ties granting special spheres of inf1u-
rnce in China be aErogated. The re-
quests We're incorporated In China's
response to the request of the commit
tee at its meeting on Monday that
the Chinese furnish a list Of the spe-
cific spheres Of influence they desired
cancelled.
The question Of the twenty-one de-
mands was brought up as limitation
Of sovereignty as a result of enforce
ment of the demands made by Japan
in 1915, to which the Chinese main.
tain they were forced under dures
TO accede
Surprise was manifested at Chinese
headquarters after the session that
the official communique made no men,
ton Of China's request concerning the
'wenty-one demands and the other
treaties involving spheres of influence.
The communique issued after the brief
meeting held by the Far Eastern COM
mittee merely said that "the commit
Zee took up the question of spheres
Of influence and special interests ia
China" and hen at the suggestion of
Chairman Hughes adjourned to per,
nit the continuation Of the conversa.
tions regarding naval ratio and Shan.
tung.
The counter proposal of China foI
lie purchase from Japan of the Kiac.
Chow-Tsinanfu railroad in Shantung
province has been cabled to Toxic by
the Japanese delegation, which has
been carrying on direct conversations
with the Chinese delegates in an eff
fort to settle the Shantung problem
outside the conference.