The Mankato free press., 1921-12-23
APAN TO OPPOSE
TREATY OF 1915
If Matter Should Be Dug
Up BY China
SUB-TALK HEARD TO-DAY
Britain Will Hold Back On This
Proposition Until
Tomorrow

washington, d. &. December %
Japan will formally oppose any dis
cusion of the validity of the 81 de-
mand treaty of 1915, If the matter is
brought up by China, as expected in
tomorrow's meeting of the Far East
ern committee of the armament con
ference, it was announced today in re-
sponsible Japanese circles.
Statements in behalf of France and
Italy accepting formally the American
proposals for limitation of capital ships
armament were made today at the
meeting of the delegates of the five
major powers of the Washington con-
ference.
Contrary to general expectations, the
question of auxiliary craft, submarines
and cruisers, was not reached at the
morning session of the committee but
went over until another meeting at
three o'clock.
The French delegation, it was said,
was not ready at the morning session
to proceed with the discussion of the
auxiliary tonnage as they had not re-
ceived instructions from their govern
ment. The delegation said it was hop
ed to have the instructions for the
afternoon meeting.
The British delegation, which had
planned to state its case in opposition
to submarines as navaT arm, also
withheld it's statement at the morning
session, which was said to have been
confined largely to preliminary general
discussion and the clearing up of the
capital ship ratio question.
Took Up Auxiliary Craft
Negotiations for the limitation OF
naval armament passed on from first
line ships to auxiliary craft today
when the full naval committee assem-
bled with its experts to begin consid
Grafton of the French request for an
increase in submarines and cruisers
As the committee assembled there
seemed to be general feeling that
the auxiliary warshiD program would
not be sufficiently difficult to leopard.
f3e success OF the oonferenee 49,.
These classes of vessels is consid
cred as having defensive value princi-
ships, already settled for all the five
great powers, involved the considera-
tions mainly offensive and thus con-
cerned directly the purpose of the con
ference to remove threats of aggres-
sive naval warfare.
The French estimates were closely
guarded up to the hour of their pres :
entation to the committee, but it was
generally known that they proposed a
large submarine strength and an in
crease also in cruiser tonnage.
Eyes Turned Toward Senator
In the general adjustment there
were indications that disproportion-
ate submarine strnegth would he allow
I'D France and that as an Offset the
British would ask for an increase ton
maze in anti submarine craft.
While the naval negotiations were
continuing the new four. power treaty
TO preserve peace in the Pacific was
becoming a subject of increasing in :
terest in conference circles because OF
the situation that has developed since
It became known that there is a diff
ference of Interpretation of the Amer
lean delegation.
The eyes of the powers were turned
toward the senate, some of whose
members have announced they would
endeavor to defeat a vote of approval
Republican leaders insist the move
ment against the treaty shows no prom
ice of success, but they are watching
closely knit organization.
Senators Borah, republican, Idaho
and Reed, democrat, Missouri, who
were members of the IrreconcilabTe
group in the Versailles .treay fight
have taken the lead in opposing the
new pact in senate debate but some
other senators have indicated thew
were preparing reservations and
amendments for presentation when rat
ification is formally proposed by the
president.
Procedure In The Senate
Opposition in the senate to the four
power pact treaty had begun today to
assume more definite form. 1t was ap-
parent the fight would be similar to
that against the treaty of Versailles.
Efforts are to be made first to Sc
cure adoption of reservations. After
ward a group of "irrecoucilables" will
oppose the treaty even If reservations
they will support are adopted.
Some of the proposed reservations
already have been drawn in tentative
form. Senator Borah has a drafe de-
claring that mo action of the contract
ing parties when acting under article
two shall committee any nation, either
legally or morally to the use of force
in meeting any exigency." " III
Senators Lodge and Underwood,
members of the American delegation,
at present are disposed to oppose this
reservation as unnecessary coutending
that the treatv contains no obligations,
moral or legal, for the use of force.