Evening star., 1921-12-01
DESTINY Of PARLEY
BEFORE THREE MEN
Mr.. Hughes, Mr.. BaIfour and
Admiral Kat0 Face Task
of Succeeding.
BY n. D. MESSENGER.

| y ~ Os uLSSENNE<hs
Two eminent statesmen and re-
nowned sea warrior, brought together
in the American capital from widely
] separated lands. stand today as three
| mighty men upon whom the atten-
tion of the civilized world is fixed and
| in whose hands rest in large measure
the destinies of the Washington con-
! ference.
Mr.. Hughes, Mr.. Balfour and Ad-
miral Baron kato constitute the trio.
| fiahked by other distinguished states
| men. who have for the time being
deputed to them the delicate duties OF
negotiating to a hopedfor successful
composure problems which now vital
ly concern the object of the confer
ence.
| Dramatic is the picture which the
| ina gination conjures of these three
| international titans meeting in grave
and serious converse to agree upon
questions whose nen-settlement might
bring woe to the world, and whose
happy adjustne N. will have far-reaeh-
ing effect upon all civilization.
Sensible Of Responsibility.
| The minds eye readily visualizes
| them as profoundly sensible of the
weight of care resting upon their
mortal shoulders and with the ele-
ment of individual responsibility ex-
tended to them to the utmost degree.
For the next twenty-four hours and
more the Washington conference will
be in the stage of personal contact
and consideration of vexlng questions
while these men confer, aloof from
public participation. 1t is taken for
! granted that what they agree upon
will be subsequently, indorsed by the
larger body of the conference. The
| parIs peace congress had its big
| four" and today Washington recog-
nizes the big three" of the hour.
| Japan's senior delegate to the con-
! ference, Admiral baron kato. is
recognized as welding potentla! IN
! tiuence in shaping the outcome of the
armament limitation conference, for
| he is expected to announce the de-
cision whether the entire superstruc-,
| ture of the pending plan tor limit
| ing naval strength snail stand or
come crashing to destruction. The
best judgment continues to be that
| 1t will stand.
| Britain Agrees With U. s.
The general understanding is that
J the American contention of Japan's
alternative proposition being unten-
| a BILE is concurred in by Great Britain's
| dele egation, as well as the naval ex-
merits, who agree with the American
naval experts. If that understanding
Mr "a
Hughes would appear to be in unison
/ in an effort to convince the Japanese
admiral that the success of the con-
ference depends upon Japan's concur
renee with their view.
A prevailing thought in official and
J Diplomatic circles today was specu-
| lation upon the possibility of Japan
putting forth suggestions of some
other objects she has In mind in con-
nection with naval limitation and re-
! lating to far eastern questions. The
general talk reflected the possibility
of Japan having in mind, as essential
| to an agreement with the American
nlan. proposals for Limitation of forti-
| fications in the Pacific and the main
tenance of naval bases within Str1k-
4 ing distance of her shores.
Naval Bases May Be Taken Up.
1t is recalled that in the public ut
terances of the Japanese delegates
and naval experts there ran repeated
references to the Importance to Japan
of Notifications and naval bases. In
near-conference quarters no surprise
would be felt should more definite
propositions on these questions be
shortly forthcoming.
General qualification exists over the
enlistment of the good offices of Mr..
Hughes and Mr.. Balfour in behalf of
an effort to bring China and Japan
together in the settlement of the
Shantung question. The undertaking
is regarded as happy augur for sue
cess of the conference in holding out
the hope that Shantung can be dis
posed of "out of court"
This hope is based upon the con-
sideration that up to this time Japan
and China have been unable to even
eet together to discuss Shantung and
the situation presented an apparent
ly hopeless impasse.