Evening star., 1921-12-22
HOPE. E.PERMEATES
PARLEY CIRCLES
Confidence Felt of Happy
Outcome of Pending Nego-
tiati0ns.
By y. o. MESSENGER.

Hope. amounting to confidence in
a happy outcome of pending negotia-
tions.. was the dominant feeling in
various agencies entered upon anoth-
er stage of functioning. Clouds in
the conference atmosphere which had
lowered for several days appeared to
be dissipating. and while not unmind-
full of the Importance and perpleNity
of the problems remaining for solu-
ton. there was disposition to attack
them in an optimistic spirit.
1t is expected that before the week
is over the fve-power agreement on
naval ratio will have been perfected
and drafted into shape for approval
of the full conference in plenary ses-
sion.
The Shantung issue was classed as
yielding to negotiation between China
and Japan. At any rate, it was point
ed out, this question is beside the
main conference, and If more time
should be required for disposal of 1T
satisfactorily, the conference could
record action upon its own proper
agenda.
Instead of being discouraged by the
dif6culties and embarrassments en-
countered in the work thus far, the
delegates to the conference are de-
scribed as being pleasantly surprised
in the success attained in their over
coming, considering thelr sefious-
ness.
Take Only Cheerful View.
Looking forward to the time when
the work of the conference is expected
to be written into treaties and placed
before the Senate. officials take only a
cheerful view of the future.
The extreme pessimistic view of the
Interpretation put upon the four-power
Pacific treaty, while it questions the
smooth progress of the treaty through
the Senate to ratification. does not re-
feet the majority sentiment in official
and diplomatic circles.
It is held as the dominant opinion
in these quarters that the analysis OF
the effect of that treaty presented in
the converse tions among the delegates.
and later assented to by President
Harding, shows that the general inter-
pretation does not conflict with the
American policy cherished by the Sen
ate. SIC
1t is expected that there will be diff
ferences of opinion among individual
senator's, but the aggregate of the dis
senters from the prevailing view is
counted ,ipon as too small as to
threaten defeat of confirmation. There
will be debate. to be sure, but that is
the Senate's privilege and constitu-
tional duty, it is said, and debate is
expected to clarity the outlook for
ratification.
Will Delay Presentation.
Presentation of the treaty to the
Senate will probably be deferred until
the broad and general detectives of
the conference have been drafted into
specific agreements. presenting a
completed undertaking. The rejection
of any essential part of the great
structure. threatening impairment OF
the beneficient whole. would have to
he urged for very impelling and OBJ
vious reasons, it is contended.
The submarine questions are expect
ed to lead to spirited discussion and
yery earnest consideration, but on the
eve of their being taken up there is
no sign of abatement of confidence
that they will yield to the same spirit
of reason and compromise which has
dictated the agreements upon ques-
tions which are inherently more COM
plicated.