The daily times., 1921-11-15
NAV|ES
MIGHT ELIMINATE
EASTERN PROBLEMS
WOULD REMOVE CAUSE
The Question of Limitation of
Armaments Is Inseparably
Bound in the Settlement of
the Far Eastern Questions,
Agreement on One May
Solve the Other.
(By David Lawrence.
Copyright, 1921, by The Daily
TirneS.) }

Times)
Washington, Nov. 14.-America's
naval proposals, as announced by
Secretary Hughes, are predicated up
on the confident assumption that the
iAnglo-Japanese alliance as wen as all
other military combinations in the
Far East will be eliminated.
The United States is willing to re-
duce the size of its navy but insists
that the causes of misunderstanding
which make navies necessary shall be
removed.
Emphasis is placed today upon the
, words of Mr.. Hughes original invita-
j tion to the Powers in which he says
lit is quite clear that there can be no
final assurance of the peace of the
world in the absence of the desire
for peace, and the prospect of reduc-
ed armaments is not hopeful one
unless this desire finds expression in
Ia practical effort to remove the causes
of misunderstanding and to seek
ground for agreement as to principles
and their applications; it is the ear
nest wish. of this government that
through an interchange of views with
the facilities afforded by the confer
ence, it may be possible to find SOL
ution of Pacific and Far Eastern
problems
In other words, the Limitation of
armament is inseparably bound in the
settlement of Far Eastern questions.
This means that before an agreement
can be reached upon the one, there
! must be an agreement on principals at
least affecting the Far East This is
1.-THE crux Of the conference at the mo-
ment for it seems likely that the
naval proposals will be accepted and
of course, a reduction in the size of
the navy of the United States would
hardly be countenanced if there were
immediate prospects of friction in the
far east.
| The Japanese delegates have care
fully refrained from saying that they
would accept the American proposals
!
agreement is later reached upon Far
Eastern questions. This is truly sig
lnificant for it is far more advantage
Gus for the japanese to see the Uni
ted States committed to a smaller
navy at this time than to have held
over them the lever of large arma-
ments if they do not agree to Amer
ica's suggestions on Far Eastern prob
lems
Since the United States is however
not eager to see anything settled at
this time except the main principles
of the naval program, it is probable
that nothing final will be agreed up
on which is actually binding on any
of the nations until all the Far East
lern questions have been thoroughly
canvassed and there is prospect of
agreement on those matters too.
The United States is saying moth
ing about the Anglo-Japanese alliance
but is taking it for granted that
!Great Britain knows as must Japan
Irealize that the American naval pro-
posals are Intellectual unless the al
lance is absolutely wiped out. For a
combina ton of British and Japanese
naval strength would violate the
2 principle announced by Secretary
Hughes, namely, that in general re
gard should be had to the existing
naval strength of the powers con
:. cerned." An Ang1o-Japanese comblna
ton would absolutely alter the ratio
of American to japanese sea-power
There is confidence, moreover
that the Canadian strength at the
4 conference here will be thrown into
the scales on the side of eliminating
e the Anglo-Japanese alliance, for Il
I is reasoned there that if the United
t States is rid of an immense financia
Continued on Page Six.)