The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-12-15
TALKS ENDED
BY Big THREE
ON SEA RATIO
Consideration Understood to
Have Been Completed To-
day Developments Com
plicate Chinese Problem.
SHIFT TO FAR EAST
(BN Associated Pressl

WASHINGTON. Dec. 15-Consider-
alton of the naval ratio question was
understood to have been completed TO-
day by the Big Three of the Washing
ton conference.
Meeting at the state department
Secretary Hughes, Arthur j. Balfour
and Admiral Baron Kato spent an
hour discussing, it was understood the
naval ratio question, and at the break
up of the session it was indicated
they would not meet again
This was taken 10 forecast final and
complete agreement on limitation OF
naval armament as regards the United
States, Japan and Great Britain
With forml announcement of com
plete agreement apparently near the
focal point of the arms conference ne
gotiations appeared to be shifting
more and more today to the Far East
ern discussions.
No session was scheduled today for
the eastern committee. which ad-
journed yesterday subject to the call
of Chairman Hughes after China had
requested that the treaties resulting
! from the famous p demands be abro-
gated and consideration of, the ques-
| ton had been promptly objected TO
! by the japanese delegates.
| Discuss New Course
| How the conference will steer its
/ course on this new element of contro-
Versy in the far eastern negotiations
was the subject of serious discussion
by the other delegations today as they
prepared for decision, probably at
the next meeting, as to whether the
| subject can properly be taken up un-
der the conference agenda
In the view of the Chinese repre-
! sentatives. however, the subject actu-
ally is before the conference now and
/ must be disposed of one way or an
i other
| The conference also faced an addi
tional complication in the far eastern
negotiations today as a result of Chi
i mas request that it take definite steps
to abolish all claims to special
spheres of influence" which have
grown out of the several treaties with
China.
Japans request for the retention OF
the battleship Mutsu, in substitution
for an older ship, as a basis for hel
complete acceptance of the naval plan
having been definitely agreed to b.
Geat Britain and the United States
with provision for equivalent conces
|, sions to those powers, officially an
nouncement of the accord was held
back today solely by technical retails
vet to be determined regarding the
British equivalent.
No Departure.
:, The United States under the ar
rangement which in no way depart!
from the "5-5-3" ratio basis Of th'
Hughes proposal, retains the battle
ships Colorado and Washington, IL
place of the Delamare and North Da
kota. 1t also has been definitely SET
; tied that the navy agreement will en
: brace a status quo understanding as t
), naval bases in the Pacific.
= Another difficult question in the fa
eastern negotiations remained unset
. tied today as the Japanese and CHI
: nese delegates continued their Shan
: tung conference in an effort to agre
= on a basis for Japanese relinquish
ment of the kiaochoW railway.
=, The controversy now revolves abou
the question of financial guarantee
:. desired by Japan for withdrawal from
: the road which some of the Chimes
{ delegates view as amounting to virtue
7 perpetuation of Japanese control owe
:, the property,