Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-12-01
ARMS PARLEY
I. HAS REACHED
TURNING POINT
Will Stand or Fall on
Events of Next 48
Hours.
JAPAN HOLDS KEY
Both Nippon and u. S.
Stand Pat on Navy
Issue.
JAPAN HOLDS KEY
BY GEORGE r. HOLMES.

WASHINGTON, Dec. l. - The
armament conference has reached
the stage where developments with
in next forty-eight hours may de-
termine the success or failure of the
epochal gathering.
Success means the scrapping of al
most half the warships Of the United
States, Great Britain and Japan and
an end to the competitive building
under which the burdened peoples of
all three countries have been stag
gering for years.
Failure means a continuance Of the
vast building programs, which will lead
to world naval supremacy for the United
States and the possibility Of war in the
future.
DECISION RESTS
WITH JAPANESE.
The decision rests with Japan Upon
her acceptance or rejection of the $50
naval ratio laid down by Secretary
Hughes and accepted by the other great
powers, hangs the worlds future naval
strength and the success or failure of
the conference.
The decision in the final analysis rests
with three men-Secretary Hughes, A. J.
Balfour Of Great Britain and Baron Kato,
the diminutive leader of the Japanese
conference staff After two weeks of fu-
tile discussion, the experts and techni-
clans of the three countries have failed
utterly to reconcile their divergent views
and have turned the responsibility of
decision back to the three leaders
Renewed assurances come from official
American sources that there would be no
backing down" on the part Of this Gov
ernment. The Japdnese contention of
ratio Of 10-107 instead of 1O-10-6 was Of
ficially described as utterly inadmissi-
bic" and, so far as America Is concerned
the japanese can either take it or leave
it." The American delegates are willing
to see the conference go on or stop right
now on the 5-5-3 issue.
While the situation admittedly was
tense, officials were not unduly perturbed.
They are supremely confident that after
brief period Of pickering Japan will
announce her acceptance Of the American
ratio in its entirety.
STILL BELIEVE
JAPS BLUFFING.
The feeling prevails in official quarters
( that the japanese position is more or
| less bluff. 1t is pointed out that Japan
has everything to gain and nothing to
lose by accepting the American program.
Japan Will be relegated to a poor third
in the naval strength of the world
whether building stops now or whether
it continues, as 1t surely will If Japan
elects to go on. Enough American tom
mage is completed on the ways today to
| insure american naval leadership of the
world within six years. The experts of
Japan, who are holding forth against ac-
ceptlng the liberal program know this.
The belief prevails in American and
British quarters that Japan is maintain
ing a bold front in the hope Of making a
trade on some other issues Of the con-
ference in which she is vitally interested
notably the fortihcations Of the Pa
cifc and maintenance of her position in
Manchuria and Mongolia.
EXPECT ANOTHER
PROPOSAL FROM JAPAN.
The American spokesmen confidently
are expecting a proposal from japan that
the 5-5-3 ratio will be accepted upon con-
dition that the United States agree to
raze the tortitications at Manila, Guam
and Hawaii. Such a proposal If it is
actually made, will be Immediately re-
jected.
The policy Of this Government is
strongly against any trading" of what
ever character. Secretary of State Hughes
and his colleagues believe the naval
program laid down by the United States
Is fair enough to all concerned to stand
on its own merits, and it will have to
be accepted that way If it is accepted
at all
The naval situation is hung high on
the pegs of a deadlock, while the powers
turn their attention to the famous Shan
tung controversy. The date of the next
meeting Of the naval committee is uncer-
tain. The call for such meeting rests
with Secretary Hughes as chairman. 1t
was officially stated that no date has
been determined upon