New-York tribune., 1921-12-03
Official Action Delayed
While Japanese Submit
1858" Ratio Terms to
the Nippon Government
America Offers
Some Concessions
Will Cease Philippine and
CuamFortificationWOrk
if Japan Limits HerForts
By Carter Field

By Carter Field
WASHINGTON, Dec. PA two
hour conference by the Big Three"
Hughes, Balfour and Kato-is un-
derstood to have reached the very
verge of a naval ratio greement.
Within few minutes after adjourn
ment optimism as to the outcome
radiated from all three delegations.
In one quarter it was said the only
thing which blocked an official agree
ment on the "5-5-3" ratio was the
fact that the japanese We're required
to cable to Toxic. At any rate, it is
understood that the japanese began
cabling a report on the situation
within an hour after the conclusion
of the conference.
Far East Involved
1t also became clear that the real
question being debated at such length
was not the merits of so per cent
ratio for Japan, instead of 20 per
cent ratio, but other considerations
or concessions which the japanese
insist upon if they are to accept the
American naval proposals. These re-
late particularly to Far Eastern
questions, but are concerned with
Notifications in that part of the
world.
To-day's meeting of the big Three
was the first formal meeting at which
the big problem of the conference.-the
naval ratio-was the question to be dis
posed of. No official statement as to
what took place at the meeting was
given besides the following commu-
nique:
Mr. Balfour, Baron Kato and Mr.
Hughes met at the State Department
this afternoon and had an extended
interview with respect to the naval
proposal. No comment on the inter-
view can be made at this time
brltlSn Are OpIImiStlc
After the meeting OF the "Big Three"
a British spokesman said:
at was a most successful meetlng.N
Important provisional decisions were
made Any announcements that may be
made are to come from the Japanese
The Japanese would make little COM
ment. An American adviser of the
japanese delegation agreed. however.
that the British estimate of the result
of the two-hour conference was not too
selor of embassy, who ordinarily ar
ranges interviews between Admiral
Baron Kato and the press, said that
it would be impossible for his chief
to make any statement tonight. He
was told what had been said by Ameri-
cans and British presumably in po-
sition to know the result of that con-
ference. But he declined to commit
himself beyond:
"Well, optimism is the correct word.
There is nothing else to say tonight"
Proposal Made to Japan
1t is understood that the view which
the Harding Admins stration has reached
after much study and consultation with
military and naval experts with regard
to Notifications in the Far East-after
they had learned what it was that the
Japanese really wanted on this qaes-
tior,--was advanced to Baron Kato at
the conference.
This is that the American govern
ment, duly considering the willingness
of Japan to agree to stop the armament
race and keep the naval strengths or
the two countries precisely as they are
during long period of years--ten- :
years is only the naval holiday, where
as the ratio extends TO the replacement
period which will follcw--and also
considering the willingness of Japan
to reach an agreement on all the Pa
cific and Far Eastern controversies be-
tween the two governments, is willing
to make certain other agreements.
Would Halt ForliEcations
One of these is not to build any fur
ther Notifications in the Philippines
or Gaum. In connection with this
pledge, however, the Americans demand
that the Japanese also cease the con-
struction of fortifications in the islands
known as the Pescadores, which lie Just
to the west of the southern half of
Formosa and command the trade route
leading up from the China Sea through
the Formosa Strait AID thence up along
the coast of China and the west coast
of Japan.
This question about the fortitication
of this group of islands was raised
to-day. Until now it had been thought
that the American ideas would be met
if the Japanese should agree not to for
tify the Caroline and Marshall islands,
over which they were given a mandate
following the Paris peace conference.
these islands being north of the equa-
tor and, therefore, assigned to Japan
under that agreement, while those
south of the Equator were assigned
to Australia and New Zealond.
Laid to Domestic Politics
From the point of view of the Japa.
nese delegates, and the japanese Cabi-
net they represent, the chief interest
in this demand that the Americans do
not construct any further fortiticalions
in the Philippines and Guam is said
to be domestic politics. The Japanese
delegates for some time have been will
ing to accept the naval ratio OF "5-5-Ss
on its own merits, and have not hesi.
sV. L. sxf