Evening star., 1921-11-04
ARMAMENT FIRST
CONFERENCE TOPIC
TO Be DISCUSSED
Naval Strength Likely to Be
Considered Before Any
Other Issues.

Other Issues.
The American delegation to the
arms Limitation conference will meet
again tomorrow at 10 o'clock TO re-
sumo consideration of subjects at
tendant upon the preliminaries of the
great international conference, which
will hold its opening meeting one
week from tomorrow and be ad-
dressed by President Harding. The
American group continued its ses-
sion of yesterday until 1880 last night
1t is generally understood in Of
hcial circles that the American dele
gates have practically rounded out
the policy of this government in the
proposal to be made as the basis for
limitation of naval armament. Of
f1cials decline to announce it in ad-
vance. for the obvious reason of tie
propriety of its being presented first
with due official formality to the
conference. in courtesy to all the
nations interested. officials discour-
age attempts at speculation upon the
probable scope of the policy adopted.
Armament Comes First.
From the guarded utterances in Of
fetal circles the inference Is drawn
that the American viewpoint of the
conference consideration of topics
visualizeS eventual concurrent atten-
ton to armament and far eastern
questions by a subdivision of the
work. On the agenda armament
comes first. however. and unquestion-
ably will be the first subject broached.
This is true from the necessity whicl,
has been realized of this government,
presenting at the outset, being the
proponent Of the conference, a basis
upon which to proceed with an agree
ment for limitation of naval arma-
ment.
Salient features Of the American
naval armaments proposal already
have been established, and although
details remain to be fixed, there is
rea son to believe the reductions sug-
gested will be sweeping enough to
convince the whole world that the
United States meant business when i,
called the powers into conference.
u. $. to Present Program.
1t would cause no surprise if the
leading naval powers found it neces-
sary to submit the plan OF this gov
ernment to long and careful study be.
fore they determine on their course
of action. Should the reductions pro-
posed prove unacceptable, it is be-
lieved likely that the American dele
gates. having once taken the initia-
tive, would invite the other powers to
present in their turn some concrete
counter proposal.
All the evidences surrounding
the conferences of the American
big four with their naval advisers
have pointed to inclusion of q
set of maximum reduction figures
in the plan to be laid on the table by
this government. No official has been
will 20 laf, ,f Hha-
figures, but there has been apparent
a desire to lay bare at the very out
set of the negotiation the full extent
to which the United States would be
willing to go in scaling down the
world naval armament.
The impression that such a method
may not lead to an immediate agree
apparent intention of some. of the
powers to pursue a directly opposite
course and enter the conference set
ting a high figure as the measure OF
the naval armament they consider
requisite to their national safety.
Japan already has indicated that she
would suggest the necessity of main
tanning navy equal to any which
might enter her sphere in the far
east; a proportion which naval ex-
perts say is well in excess of her
present power.
Far East to Be Considered.
While the naval armament question
is considered certain to be the first to
occupy the active attention of the
conference. it Is not the expectation
of officials here that the live prob
lem of far eastern diplomacy will re-
main long in the background.
1t Is conceivable among American
officials that some of the far eastern
nrOh1ene NAV h. brought Sbarply
into issue as soon S-Ieplies are made
to the initial proposal of this gov
ernment for naval reductions. Nat
urally the other powers will desire
to set forth their reasons for the
attitude they take on this proposal.
and in the consideration Of these
reasons the conference may swing en-
tirely away from the question of
armament for the moment and ad-
dress itself directly to the causes for
armament
Other Delegates Due.
British and Canadian delegates to
the conference are expected to arrive
was today working on plans for their
appropriate reception at the Union
station. Those expected tomorrow
are:
Canadian (Delegate) Sir Robert
Borden. G. c. NJ. G., K. c.. NJ. p, for
meE DElIQe VI NdHduds
Christie. legal adviser to the depart
ment Of external affairs.
British-(Delegate) The Rt. Hon.
Lord Lee of Fareham. &. B. E.. K. c.
B.. first lord of the admiralty; (dele-
gate) the Hon. v. s. Srinivasa Sastri,
Of India: Rear admiral Sir Alfred
Ernie Chatfield. K. c. N. c., c. B.,
C. v. o.
Conference Table Ready.
Physical preparations for the hold
ing Of the conference are progressing
rapidly and all will be in readiness
for the opening session. The great
horseshoe table about which the dele
gates Will assemble has been installed
in the auditorium of the hall of the
daughters Of the American Revolution
building. AL the open sessions Of the
general conference will be held in this
The Office rooms in the Navy build
ing are practically ready for oc-
cupancy, and the American delegation
viii install some Of its technical ex-
merits in their offices in that structure
next Monday.
Preparing Wire Facilities.
Announcement was made at the State
Department today that officials are ex.
erting every effort to provide for the
most adequate cable and wireless facil-
ities for communication between Wash
ineton and the far east. 1t is evident
that there will be heavy demands on
the fimited facilities which up to this
time have been available, and that the
communication facilities must be gen.
erously expanded.