The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-07-20
New Conflict May Result in
Withdrawal From League.
Adjournment Request Ignored
by Disarmament Meeting.
Meet JAPAN half WAY
c. S. Would Make Slight Con-
cessiOns il Necessary.
No London Preliminary Confer
ence Considered Likely.

Paris, July 2O.-As a direct result
| of President Harding's initiative to-
| wards worlds disarmament, conflict
| has arisen between France and the
| League of Nations which may result
| in the withdrawal of France from the
league at the September meeting in
Geneva.
| According to the Echo de Paris,
France asked the league to adjourn
/ the disarmament meetings because
/ they might clash with the American
proposals. Leon Bourgeois. president
of the French senate and member of
| the League of Nations, council. refused
to agree. The result Was that the dis
armament commission of the league
met here as per schedule.
Claim Britain in Control.
The French diplomats now are TAX
ing advantage of the occasion to air
all of Frances previous complaints
against the league, including the ale
cation that the organization is domt-
mated by the British. The French con-
tend that the British control every
worth while commission and post of
the league.
In the meantime. American negotia-
tions with Berlin are being followed
here. French statesmen who are op-
iposed to the League of Nations pointed
tout that America is successfully con-
Quoting international negotiations
without being a member of the league.
Hope is being expressed that some
way will be found by which Washing
ton will enter into normal relations
with the former enemy powers with
out destroying the treaty of Versailles.
1t is pointed out that while the
league is theoretically charged with
| heavy duties under the treaty, all i'm
portant directions are invariably made
by the interallied supreme council,
regardless of the league.
To Be No London Meet.
London, July 20.-The suggestion
that a meeting preliminary to the
Washington disarmament conference
be held in London to enable the Brit
ish dominions to express their views
be abandoned it was learned in a well
informed quarter here today.
Amy and all conferences dealing
with these two subjects will be held
in America" was the assurance given
in this quarter.
Would Make Concessions.
Washington. July 20.-Altho the ad.
ninistration is expectant that Japan
will enter President Harding's dis
armament conference Internationally
it was learned today that this govern
ment is willing to make some slight
Y concessions, if necessary, to pave the
= way for japanese acceptance.
In view of the apparent reluctance
OF Japan to accept unconditionally II
was learned today the administration
!. has signified its willingness to agree to
: the following propositions in the order
of their desira bility:
/ 1. Unconditional acceptance by
Japan.
l 2. Acceptance by Japan with the
understanding that there shall be a
preliminary discussion of the program
3. Acceptance by Japan on condi-
4 ton of a preliminary drafting of the
= program for the proposed conference
: Prefer Unreserved Acceptance.
Altho it has been Indicated that this
government may agree to these con-
cessiors, it is also learned that the
administration has made it unmistak-
ably plain to Japan that it feels the
r conference has chance of greater sue
= cess If the nations enter the parley
L without any reservations.
t AS far as the United States is con-
cerned. it is understood at the present
time, its present discussion of FaI
4 Eastern subjects centers chiefly about
the open door, policy in China; the
integrity of China, and the integrity
y of Russia.
: Reply Being Drafted?
Toxic, July 2o-There appears to-
, day to be reason to believe that
/ Japan's unqualified acceptance OF
/ Presidents Harding's invitation to an
= international conference has either
n been sent to Washington or is being
: drafted.
t The cabinet has given daily con-
sideration. to the conference. There
was a special session ON Monday fol
lowed by the regular session Tuesday
: The latter was again discussed today
1 Officials of the foreign office still
4 maintain that no formal communica-
5 ton has been received from the
United States in reply to this coun-
: try's- request for information as tC
the scope and character of the Fan
: East discussions. 1t is admitted
: however, that Secretary of State
< Hughes and Baron Shidehara, the
I Japanese ambassador to Washington
discussed the matter. Later, the am
: bassador cabled a report to Toxic
which will enable Japan to have a re
n ply ready by the time the forma
: diplomatic document is received from
Washington. 1t was reported toda,
the foreign office already has twt
drafts drawn up, but they have no
wet been aDDrOyed by the cabinet