The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-11-19


 principle of the whole plan.
 Tn effect, the American figures
 would give Japan six fighting
 ships to every ten owned by the
 United States and every ten
 owned by Great Britain. The
 Japanese have hinted but never
 formally announced that they
 want seven to ten. The naval cx-
 perts of the United states really
 believe that five to ten is nearer
 The proper allotment. Great
 Britain has accepted the six to
 ten plan in principle hut her
 spokesmen have been silent about
 the new Japanese proposals.
 IT IL turns out that the slightly greater naval force suggest cd for the Japanese by Admiral Baron kato only amounts to the addition Of one battle cruiser to the Japanese figures, then the emphatic obiections Of the American delegates may not be deemed necessary. But if the sus- gestion eomprehends a real change 1n proportion, it is declared a diplo- matic struggle will result.
 Naval Armaments.
 A clear delineation of the Ameri can position on this subject served 10 turn attention again to naval arm aments today, while the far eastern negotiations were at a standstill to permit the powers to work out de- tails of their policy. Neither the con ference nor any of it's committees met curing the day but the nine delega- tons will assemble tomorrow in ex- ecut1ve session to resume their dis cussions on the far east
 Coincident with the disclosure of the American viewpoint on naval re- auctions, 1t was revealed today that the administration does not propose 10 limit the armament agreement, if there Is one, to the nations repre- sented in the Washington conference WhethO treaty or simply an '.un- derstandingi' would come out of the negotiations. administration officials would not predict, but officials said whatever. the form of agreement, the other interested nations would be asked to participate.
 Should no treaty requiring Sem
 ate confirmation result, 1t was
 said to be the belief of the ad-
 minfstratfon that the whole arm-
 ament reduction programme could
 be put through without congress
 sionai action. International .un-
 derstandings of policy" do not re-
 quire the approval of Congress,
 and officials say the proposed
 scrapping of warships could be
 accomplished under general au-
 thority already possessed by the
 executive.
 Express Views on Far East
 There was every indication that all the powers would go into tofnorrow's s far eastern conference fully prepared to express their views on the plan presented as basis of discussion by China. During the two- day recess the foreign delegations have been in touch with their governments and all though not all may desire to make detailed statements of their views at this stage of the negotiations, there is a general expectation that some progress will be possible
 The Japanese, in particular, indi- cated that they intend to have thelr policies step by step. They were pre- pared to ask for an interpretation ot some of the Chinese '"10 points, and seemed specially interested in the proposal for the re-examination of all compacts affecting China. Should China desire to reopen what Japan regards as closed incidents" the step would be opposed determinedly.
 British Support China
 General support of Chinas aspira- ton for national development, free from the restrictions that hitherto have surrounded her, was expressed today among the British delegates, who declared their government was ready to give up the extra territorial privilege as soon as Chinese courts were sufficiently developed to guar antee justice. A similar attitude all ready had been indicated by France and the United States.
 The Chinese delegates themselves will go into tomorrow's meeting with the attitude that having laid down their declaration of rights 1t Is some one eise's move. They are preparing for no further statement, but say they will be glad to answer ques- tions and explain their interpreta- tions of their propositions.
 A formal call was issued today for the third public session of the con ference. which is to be held Monday. Premier Briand of France is expected to speak to the delegates on land armament in which France is vitally interested. laying down a formula that will become the basis of dis cussion later.