The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-12-03
General Official Belief Is
That a Solution Of the
Trouble Which Is Now
Holding Up the Work
Of the Conference May
Be Had Without Aban.
doning u. S. Proposal

Washington. Dec. 3.-(By the As
sociated Press with latest develop.
ments in negotiations on the question
of naval ratio for Japan represented
by delegation spokesmen as justify
ing optimism, although their nature
was a closely guarded secret, the
whole matter was expected to remain
at a standstill today while Baron
Kato communicated further on the
situation with Toxic.
What new phase the negotiations
may have entered as the result of the
extended discussion of the ratio ques-
ton at conference of the naval big
three yesterday was matter only
of speculation today. The conferees
Secretary Hughes, Baron Kato anu
Arthur J. Balfour-as well as the
spokesmen for their respective dele
cations continued to maintain silence
as to what new trend the discussions
may have taken, although the situa-
ton was represented as having been
brought to a favorable stage at the
meeting.
Unofficial, but apparently authori-
tative comment in Japanese circles in
Washington today suggested the pos
sibility that the question of American
Notifications in the Pacific may have
entered into the new development of
the situation. but this was lacking any
official confirmation.
Give Up Chinese Land
Washington. Nov. 3.-(Associateo
Press Another important point in
the Far Eastern discussion o. the
armament conference was worT toGay
by China in the committee 1f pne
powers when Great Britain, -JfplGn,
andFrance agreed to retire from
much of the leased territory of China.
Japanese representatives it was said,
agreed to give up their leased terri
torial holdings in Shantung and also
reported as offering to discuss retire
ment from their special territorial
privileges in Manchuria. France ex-
pressed willingness to retire from
Kwan Chow. Wal, the French leased
territory, and Great Britain followed
with a proffer to give up the British
leased territory of Wei Hal Wei
Washington, Dec. 3.-(By the Asso-
ciated Press. Negotiations on the
naval ratio question were practically
1 at standstill while Japanese repre-
sentatives awaited further work from
I Toxic.
4 Today the results of yesterdays
conference between the principal
I American, British and Japanese dele
I gates were under study by the Japa-
nese cabinet and the diplomatic ad-
4 visory council.
"a All indications were that whatever
had been proposed as a means OF
bringing the United States and Japan
together did not involve any abandon
) ment of the "5-5-3" ratio proposed by
Y the United States and supported by
Great Britain, but rather concerned
other considerations which the Japa-
nese regard as necessary to them.
n Chief among these was understood
n to be the question of further fortifi-
4 cation of the American bases in the
y Pacific, which the Japanese wish to
d see checked. Their relation of forti-
4 fed bases is such to fleet ratio as to
4 Indicate that Japan might regard the
"5-5-3" proposal as not inconsistent
4 with their standard of national secur-
7 ity, if details regarding them could
u be arranged.
There was a decided impression
among other delegates not represent
g ed in yesterdays conference of the
z 'big three" that a means of approach
n to a settlement had been found out
4 side of any alteration of the "5-5-3."
In the general discussion in confer
E ence circles which had been aroused
4 by the secrecy which. surrounds the
a latest stage of the negotiations, a
- number of considerations are being
mentioned as among those which
might accompany the agreement. One
of these is the general feeling that
the Anglo-Japanese alliance Is being
i dealt with and that there will soon
appear plan approved by both ia
pan and Great Britain to abandon that
much discussed agreement and sub
stitute it with some other sort OF an
agreement to which the United States
might be party. One suggestion is
for a set of arbitration treaties be
tween the three powers with pro
vision that Japan would not be in
volved in war without six months
or a years notice. Another considera
ton being discussed involves Japan's
position in China.
The general feeling among dele
gates is that concessions to Japan Il
they may be properly SO termed, may
Sbe made which will cause her to &C
cept the '.5-5-S" intact.