Evening star., 1921-11-27
Ships Resume Place
of Predominating
Interest Here.
EXPERTS FINISHING
UP CONSIDERATION
British and Americans
Ready to Make Their
Reports.
BY the Associated Press

By the Associated Press
The problem Of naval Limitation
left In the background while the fal
eastern negotiations are developing
step by step the policies Of the powers
toward China, has been advanced &c
point where it may soon resume a
place of predominating interest in
the arms. conference.
IL was indicated yesterday that both
the American and British experts had
virtually completed their work on de
tails of the American reduction plan
and would be ready to report to the
conference early this week. The
Japanese experts had no similar an.
nouncement to make. but il was as.
sumed they would not permit them
selves to- be put in the position OF
delaying seriously the progress of the
negotiations.
Ratio Critical Point. .-,
The crucial point In the discussions
as viewed by the American delegation
at least. is the "5-5-3 ratio" of capital
ship strength, which forms the basis
of the American plan, and 1t is upon
this feature that the consideration
of the conference are expected to
center when 1t turns again to the
naval question. 1t was said author
itatively yesterday that. in the opin-
ion of the spokesmen of the American
government. all questions relating
to military craft are of collateral i'm
portance only, and can be settled
easily once there is an agreement on
capital ships.
Conference officials are understood
to feel that the attention OF the dele
gates can be diverted from the faI
eastern problems to the subject OF
naval armament without conflicting
the procedure of the conferences, and
the American delegation in particulai
has shown, a desire to get back into
the naval discussions as soon - the
work Of the experts will permit. The
American delegates are declared to o<
well satisfied with the progress made
in the far eastern negotiations, but
Impatient to get the naval negotia-
tions out of the committee for a more
definite exchange of views among
those who will actually have the hnal
decision.
Near Postal Agreement
Another Of China's problems reached
the point of a virtual agreement In
principle" during the session yester-
day of the committee OF the whole
devoted to a discussion OF the main
tenance of foreign postoffices and
postal systems on Chinese soil.
The delegates all agreed there
should be a withdrawal of the foreign
postal machinery as soon as condi-
tions warrant, and subcommittee
headed by Senator Lodge Of the Amer.
lean delegation drew up for later
formal adoption a declaration of prin-
ciple under which each Of the powers
would investigate conditions for1itself
and withdraw when 1t considered 1t
practical to do so.
The report Is to be presented to the
full committee tomorrow, and at the
same time another subcommittee will
present for approval a resolution de-
claring also for a gradual abolition
of. the .extraterritorial rights in China
as soon as china's judicial machinery
will warrant the change. 1t is ex-
pected that the dispatch OF. an inter-
national commission of jurists to
China to study the situation will be
recommended in the subcommittee re-
port and agreed to by the conference.
In the discussion of the postal ques-
ton yesterday the delegates of Japan
are understood to have expressed
serious doubt whether the present
postal facilities of the Chinese gov
crnment would fully meet the de-
mands made upon them should the
foreign systems Withdraw. 1t was
also said to have been suggested by
some delegates that the Peking gov
ernment might find difficulty in en-
forcing reforms which might be
agreed to here. In view Of the un.
settled state of the internal affairs
of China. The virtual decision to
leave withdrawal to the discretion .ef
each individual power was the re-
suit.
Presidents Plan Causes Interest.
Although no formal mention Of it
was made in the, committee meeting,
President Harding's suggestion for a
continuance Of the conference. plan