Great Falls tribune., 1921-12-05
NAVAL D|SPUT
LAID ON SHELF
FOR FEW DAYS
Delegates Being Kept
Busy Attending Many
Informal Chats
East Discussions to. Be
Resumed Wednesday;
Other Problems Later.

Washington, Dec. 4.-(By The As
sociated Press )-The'> arms {eonfer-
ence is in recess until Wednesday,
but for most of the delegates there is
no rest from the increasingly promi-
nent informal consultations in which
individuals and small groups exchange
views on important phases of the
negotiations.
For the present. these interviews
are considered chiefly with collateral
elements of the situation, while prog
ress on the all important subject OF
naval ratio awaits further word from
Toxic. The far eastern discussions
are to be resumed at a meeting of the
committee of the whole Wednesday,
but it may be late in the week be-
fore the japanese have received in
structions from Toxic warranting a
further step in the naval exchanges.
Program Secret
Like the deliberations of the lesser
groups, the actual state of affairs in
regard to the naval ratio remains
secret. with, the result that in its
present phase. most of the happen
ings of the conference must remain
a mystery to the public. Even the
delegates of some nations represented
here are ignorant of what is in the
minds of the naval big three
Hughes. Balfour and kato-who are
described as regarding it as a matter
of honor" not to divulge what hap
pened at their two-hour conference
Friday night.
Since the big Three" is not a
regularly constituted sub committee OF
the conference, its discussions are not
loaJt 0fnrpa1p nouofiofinrS
in the official public statements of the
conference. Similarly, the statements
do not take into account at all the
many meetings between various ma
tional spokesmen at which some OF
the real business of the negotiations
has been informally carried on.
Japan Causes Delay
The long delay in carrying forward
the naval discussions is explained by
the time required for the Japanese
delegates to communicate with Toxic,
as well as by the Importance which
the Japanese attach to the present
stage of the negotiations. 1t is said
in japanese circles here that the
home officials doubtless will not de-
sire to forward definite statement
of the national attitude until they
nave very tHOIoukAy SAA'doSCo SShei
ment in Japan. :.
By some Japanese, the question of
accepting or rejecting the American
proposal for a 5-5-3 naval ratio is
regarded as bringing Japan face to
face with one of the most important
decisions of her history.
The latest suggestion to gain cur
rency in unofficial discussions here
is that the consortium of foreign
powers for China may furnish the
basis Of q plan by which the powers
can unite to aid China financially and
at the same time stabilize political
conditions in the far east. No com
ment on the suggestion is Forthcoming
from authoritative sources.
Take Short Trips
Most of the British delegates left
Washington to be absent until We'd
nesday and many of the plenipotenti-
aries of the other nations will take
advantage of the two-day recess to
watch the opening of the new session
of congress Monday and Tuesday But
it is expected that "the informal con-
will continue to take UP
most of the waking hours of every
one connected with the conference.
In japanese circles, it was pre-
dicted that it would be "some days
before any important developments
advanced the naval negotiations be-
yond their present waiting stage. En-
pbasizing the Importance Of the de-
cision Japan is making, her repre-
sentatives indicated again that they
regard the final outcome of the naval
question as bearing close relation |
to possible abrogation Of the Anglo
Japanese alliance, and the substitution |
Of some agreement which would in !
clude the United States and be the
basis of permanent understanding /,
between Japan and this country.
There were also increased indica-
tons that the question of fortifica-
lions in the waters of the far east |
bore close relation in the minds of |
Japan to the question Of national
policy and therefore, to the concrete
question Of how many capital war |
ships Japan Is to be permanently
allotted
M'LEOD UNABLE TO SERVE