Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1921-12-04
arms Conference Waits
TOXIC REPLY TO HUGHES
NAVAL RATIO PROPOSALS

WASHINGTON, Dec. s. Naval
ratio negotiations, apparently at their
most favorable stage since the arms
conference began, waited on Toxic
today while representatives of Great
Britain Japan and France were COM
ing together in conditional agree
ment for withdrawal from portions
Of their leased territory in China.
Outward developments contributed
nothing to the status of the naval
discussions but the impression grew
that the American, British and
japanese governments were consider
.ment that not only would include ac-
ceptance of the American 5-5-3 ra-
ito. but would have to do also with
Pacific. Notifications and some po-
litical problems of the Far East.
Definite action, however, will have
to wait several days while Japanese
delega ties feel outside attitude of
their home government toward the
newest phase of the negotiations as
it shapes up from last nights con-
ference between heads of the Ameri-
can, British and Japanese delega-
| tions.
In the Far Eastern negotiations
developments centering about the
! Chinese leaders were of so pro-
| nounced a character as to be re-
| garded generally as ranking among
! the most important of the confer
| ence.
Tonight the conference. after three
weeks of continuous work, went into
recess until wednesday. Many dele
gates, it was said, had important
personal affairs, and most of them
| wanted to be present Monday and
Tuesday at the opening of congress.
The interim also will permit the
Japanese to advise themselves as TO
the attitude of Toxic and will make
it possible for Arthur ]. Balfour and
| other members of the British delega-
tion TO fulfill engagements in New
| York.
In all the major delegations conf
depce apparently was increasing to-
| night that the response from Toxic
would be favorable and that a more
definite basis of negotia ions would
! develop soon after the reassembling
| of delegates. They have no thought
that a final agreement Will be pos
sible in the immediate future. how
| ever. because many details remain TO
| be determined.
OF growing prominence among the
| side issues of the naval problem is
the Anglo-Japanese alliance. That
| is a subject which the British
| Japanese and Americans all refer 10
| guardedly but there have been many
| hints that both Great Britain and
| Japan would prefer to have the
On ted States a party 20 any con-
tinuance of the treaty or even would
be willing TO make a new agreement
by which the three would unite tC
preserve peace in the Far East.
The crux of the whole question lie!
in the fact that the American dele
cation is opposed to entering an!
such arrangement if it is to be re
garded as in any sense an alliance
and that Japan, on the other hand
is reluctant TO substitute for tn
Anglo-Japanese treaty, any agree
! ment whose terms would seem T.
leave her in weaker situation. !
system of arbitration treaties ha
been suggested, but there is no auth
oritauve information as to hoy
nearly satisfactory that solution
I might be TO either the United State
( or Japan.
? 1t is taken for granted, that shout
: 4 regional agreement or set of eros
! treaties develop, France would be in
= cluded.
I Maintenance Of Notifications an
naval bases in the Pacific islands i
4 another factor of increasing interes
/ to Japan, as the naval ratio discus
S sion advances. II now is believe
probable that some agreement as [
bases win accompany the ratio solu
ton, although in the physical ar
{ rangement of the final work of an
2 / conference. the two may not be IN
I / Guided in the same understanding
e : or treaty" ANY treaty arrange
e / meut for limitation Of Pacific forti
t fcations, it is said, in the America
r delegation, would logically be a pan
E of a treaty fixing the status OF th
inundated island OF zap.