The New York herald., 1921-11-18
Nippon Envoy Considers
Pekin Formula Only as
Basis for Discussion.
DELEGATES HOLD CAUCUS
Oriental Matters to Be De-
bated in Open Sessions Prob
ably Next Week.
BY LOUIS SETBOLD.

Special Despatch 10 THE New YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington. ID. C., Nov. IL.
| The international conference to-
day entered the caucus stage and
actual developments were much like
those that characterize the prelim.
mary phases of an American politi.
cal convention.
The events that engaged the ac.
tivities of the cllief actors in the mo-
mentous enterprise were neither con.
elusive nor publicly discussed. The
only contribution of discordant ma
ture that came from any of the dele.
cations was provided by Japan, which
followed a cautious statement that
ii would accept the ten points" Of.
fered by the Pekin Government OF
China for the correction OF Far East.
ern complications "as the basis for
discussion" with a more definite
announcement indicating opposition
to the American plan for the limita.
tlOii VI udNdi OIL
In some quarters the statement
made by Admiral Baron Kato, Secre-
tary OF the Japanese Navy and
spokesman for the Nippon delega
ton, was interpreted to mean deter.
mined insistence for greater conces.
sions in the matter OF naval arma.
ment. In others 1t was construed as
shrewd move in the line of trading
and not necessarily indicative of final
opposition.
Text of kato's Statement.
The statement made by Baron kato
late this afternoon follows:
Because of her geographical
position Japan deems it only fair.
at the present time, that the other
interested countries should agree
that she maintain a proportion in
general tonnage slightly greater
than so per cent. and in type OF
vessel of strictly defensive char.
acter. she might desire even to
approximate that Of the greater
navies.
The position taken by Japan on the
plan to limit naval armaments, while
impairing 70 some extent the favor
able impression created by the repre-
sentativcs Of that Government, is not
officially regarded as providing cause
for serious concern, and it is believed
the Japanese delegates ultimately will
instance their desire to assist In the
great reforms for which the interna-
tional conference was called. Never
theless II caused some disturbance
among the delegates of the other coun-
tries, as 1t Is the first note indicating
any lack OF complete harmony that
has cropped above the surface OF the
conference deliberations.
The only official announcement made
was contained in communique from
the subcommittee considering Far
Eastern questions conveying the in
formation that at a meeting of tho full
committee an opportunity would be
provided FOR a general discussion O,
the questions relating to China. 10 be
followed by topics in the order listed
in tho tentative agenda which had
been suggested by the American Gov
crnment. At that time the proposals
submitted IN behalf Of the Chinese
(Pekln) delegation i'm connection with
the appropriate heads to which the
several proposals relate will be con-
sidered.
Navni Committee meets.
The committee on naval limitasio=S
continued its session, during which the
various features OF the American plan
were subjected to investigation and
analysis by the board OF Admirals rep
resenting the United states. Great
Britain. France. Italy and Japan.
1t is understood that this body has
to date confined its inquiries into the
naval status OF France and Italy,
which were not set forth in the pro
posals made by Secretary Hughes fcr
the limitation of sea afmaments
Great Britain and Japan have not re-
duced to substantial form the specific
notifications which the delegates rem
resenting those two countries VIII