The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-11-28
Probe of Chinese
Courts Virtually Decided.
Harding's Plan for Nations AS
SOciatiOn Endorsed.
SEN. BORAH LEADS OPPOSITION
Japan Expected to Give in on
Naval Cut Ratio.
British Experts Back Americans
on Big Battleship Plan.


Washington, Nov. 2S.-The arms
conference entered the third week of
its deliberations today with Far East
ern questions continuing to hold the
center of the stage.
Formal disposition of the question OF
extra territorialty and postal rights in
China thru specific declarations pre-
pared by subcommittee was the pre-
arranged business of the conference on
/ convening this morning for another
committee session.
To Probe Chinese Courts.
| These declarations will express the
agreed attitude of the conference that
the system of foreign judicial courts
! and also the foreign post offices main
tanned within China shall be with
drawn as speedily as conditions war
J rant.
The virtual decision of the confer
ence to send a commission of jurists to
investigate the efficiency of the Chi
! nese courts was to be embodied in the
| declaration relating to that subject.
| Spokesmen of two other of the par
! ticipating powers, Senator Schauzer of
Italy, whose delegation he heads, and
Vice Foreign Minister Hanihara for
Japan, one of the four members Of
that delegation had Joined today with
Rene Viviani, head of the French dele
cation in endorsing President Hard
ing's formal suggestion that the pres
ent might be a starting point for a
| continuing series of conferences to ex-
anime, world problems.
Senator Schanzer expressed the con-
viction that adoption of the plan
would represent the greatest and
| most beneficial result of the Washing
ton conference" while Mr.. Hanihara
said he believed Japan would be ready
to take part in any further confer
ences," with the great object of main
tanning a harm onious cooperation of
1.-THE powers and world peace"
Borah Opposes Nations Association.
"a voice in opposition to the pro-
posed association of nations" was
raised simultaneously by Senator
Borah, Republican, Idaho. who de-
| clared it would be the "oid league of
nations under another name" It
would engage in precisely the same
| kind of work. said the Idaho sena-
tor, adding:
1T is not what you call it. but what
it is that counts"
Negotiations on the naval side OF
| the program were expected to assume
a more prominent status this week,
hwith the possibility that another
plenary session of the conference
would be called to reach a final de-
cision at least on the most vital ele-
! ment of the American reduction pro-
posal-the 5-5-3 ratio of fleet strength
between Great Britain, the United
States and Japan.
This would follow a report TO the
! big five committee on the facts and
i conclusions developed in the technical
committee now considering the sub
| 1ect. Coupled with the fact that there
mas been no indication that the Ameri-
can delegates have receded from their
/ a - l..
posed were reports in circulation today
| that Japan, falling to have her own
standard of measurement accepted for
Ilxlng the ratio. was quite disposed to
accept the ratio in the American pro-
posal.
Japan VIII Give I'm.
Japan will make stiff fight bur
in the end she will yield"
tasz ms expression from a high ranking
naval authority accurately refiected
toQay the opinion held by American
OFFICIALS and foreign diplomats thai
| this, the third week of the armament
conference, will see Japan's acceut-
ance of the 5-5-3 capital shin ratio
iald down in the American program.
1t has been known for several davs
that the japanese delegation here is
under instructions from Toxic to hold
out strongly for an increase In ratio
TO 1O-l0-7. 1t is understood Japan
VIII formally lay such a. proposition
| SNACA = tAS poWeTH at the flTst meet
| ing of the naval committee.
The absolute rejection of the jap
anese proposal by the American au-
thoriues is assured. American experts
feel that Japan has been treated lib
orally in the 5-5-3 ratio. They pOint
out that the three to five program was
decided upon only after many experts
had insisted that Japan's allowance Of
capital ships be placed at SO per cent
instead of 60.
British Back Hughes Plan.
The opinion also is held by some
American officials that Japan secretly
| is rather pleased by the ratio Of three
to five and that she is making a fight
on it with idea that by seeming 10
yield reluctantly she may be able TO
get concessions further on in the con-
ference. perhaps in the matter OF
auxiliary ships.
II can be stated authoritatively that
British experts are with the Ameri-
! cans in the capital ship ratio.
While American officials deprecate
any suggestion of a split In the con-
ference. It can be stated autnorita-
} lively the American delegation is will
J ing to see the conference stand or fall
on the issue of Japan's acceptance
Until the capital ship issue Is seE-
tied. the experts are not concerning
themselves with the objections ralsed
by 10th Japan and England, with re-
gard % auxiliary ships sucn as sub
mari :. light cruisers and airplans
carrie The big ships form the hub
of tn, hole Hughes program ana
until agreement is reached on
these. rxperts are giving little