The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-11-16
Of FAR
EAST NOW CENTER
OF C0NFEREN NCE
Delegates Approach Discussion
with Hesitation
WATCHFUL WAITING STAND
Disposition on Part of All to Let
Neighbor Have First
Word

Washington, Nov. 16-(By the As.
sociated Press Problems in the far
east whose solution is adjudged an
integral part of the question of arma.
ments took the center of attention at
the arms conference today while the
plan for reduction OF naval arma.
ments is passing through its period
! OF technical examination at the hands
OF the committee experts.
For the first me the delegations OF
the United States, Great Britain
France, Japan, Italy, China, Belgium
Portugal, and the Netherlands, act.
ing as committee Of the whole on
far eastern questions, assembled for
preliminary discussion and to lay
plans OF procedure,
The proceedings we're in sharp con.
trast to the manner in which the con.
ference rackled the armament prob.
lem on the opening day Representa-.
tives OF the powers were apparent
wa ting for one another to say the
first word about the intricate ques.
tlons that have long troubled dlplo.
matte re ations in the Pacific and the
Orient.
Washington, Nov l6 (By The
Associated Press) THE sweeping
American proposal for reduction OF
naval armament became the accented
fundamental policy OF the armament
conference yesterday BY the unan..
nous assent of the five great powers.
Seconding the bold lead OF the
United States, the accredited spoke !.
men of Great Britain, Japan, italy and
France rose in their places at today's
pienary session Of the conference.
and one after another declared the
readiness OF their governments to
accept the American proposal in
spirit and in principle, but With the
reservation OF a right sugges modi.
iications of detail.
Then the problem OF these details.
which every one realizes may yet oc-
cupy the prolonged attention OF the
conference and involve the success
or failure Of the whole plan, was re.
ferred for preliminary examination to
committee OF five technical naval
advisers. one from each of the big
five powers. Within this committee
first OF all, Great Britain will ask for
a further reduction OF the limit pro.
posed on submarine tonnage, japan
will endeavor to prove her right to
greater ratio Of naval strength than
has been suggested for her and
France and Italy will request that
their naval questions be considered
along with those Of the three strong.
er naval powers embraced in the
American plan.
Thus the diplomacy Of the Ameri- |
can delegation has won its first vic |
tory in the conference, but stlll finds |
Itself confronted with questions Of |
admitted Importance and deiicacy !
whose solution Is requisite to attain. !
ment of the purposes for which the |
nations were called into consultation,
While the technical advisers |
wrestle with the armaments problem
and the delegates themselves con-
tinue informal conservations on the
American plan. the other big subject I
OF the conference, the Far Eastern !
situation, win he given It's first for. /
nal consideration at an executive |
meet ng today Of the delegations Of /
al the nine Interested nations. Last
night every one Of the delegations I
was in waiting attitude toward the /
Far Eastern questions, and If any ma
tlon had a comprehensive plan OF
settlement to present at the outset 1t
was carefully concealed.