Evening star., 1921-12-02
Members Highly Pleased With
Progress as Summed Up
at Session Today.
FAR EAST PROBLEMS
STIR NEW INTEREST
Much Speculation Over Possible
Combining of Naval Ratio and
Political Discussions.
Ey the Associated Press.

Ey the Associated Press.
Negotiations over the naval pro-
gram, according to the feeling IN
American arms conference quarters
today. are proceeding satisfactorily
The four American delegates meet
ing today went over the situation as
1t stands Afterward it was said the
Americans were very well satlsneu
with the turn that the naval discus
sions were taking and were hopeiui
that the American limitation program
would be received favorably. more
definite status. however, was SAID 10
be improbable before next week.
To what extent the discussions
over the naval ratio and the politi-
cal problems of the far east may De-
come intertwined became subject
of increasing speculation today as
the two negotiations develop stimuli
taneously toward the point OF i'm
portant decisions.
Mny Seek to Bind Issues
The whole physical procedure OF
the conference thus far has contrib
uted to absolute separation of the
two questions, and on the surface
there has been no indication OF
change On the other side, various
elements of the situation have led
to an impression in some quarters
that in the final stages of the nego-
riations there may be an EFFORT, at
least, to bind the two together.
1t was suggested today in British
circles that the Anglo-Japanese al
lance inevitably would come into the
naval discussions. If IT had not
already done so. despite the apparent
intention of the British delegation to
press for a naval agreement not de-
pendent on the outcome OF the 1ar
eastern questions. The naval ques-
tion is said to have been considered
at a conference yesterday between
Baron Kato and Arthur ]. Balfour,
and it is regarded among the dele
gates as entirely likely that the
alliance was one of the important
questions of their discussion.
From the Japanese theresbaveTc come
from time to time many SUGGESTIONS
that the general far eastern situation
had a close relation to the reduction
of Japanese naval armament. IL ls
recalled also that in his nrst an
nouncement of the calling Of the
Washington conference President
Harding declared it was manifest
that the question of limitation OF
armament has a close relation to Ia
cific and far eastern problems
British Favor Separate Action.
For the British it was said by an
authoritative spokesman today that
they saw no reason why the present
procedure of the conference should
not be carried forward to a naval
agreement without waiting for the
outcome of the far eastern negotia-
tions. The same attitude appeared
to be held by the Americans. but the
position of the Japanese was more
difficult question. The last omclal
word on that Subject came from
Baron Kato few days after the con-
declaration that Japan saw no reason
at that stage why she should not
proceed to solution Of the naval
question independent OF the politicai
situation in the far east.
While the far eastern conversations
are referred to by all the principals
as having accomplished important re-
suits it is pointed out that in none
of the concrete questions dealt with
has there been binding and uncon-
ditional agreement. In each case the
actual determination Of courses or ac-
tion has been left largely to the in
dividual nations. under promise 10
he guided by a blanket declaration OF
principles.
In this situation, it is asserted by
those connected with the conference,
that IL would be well within the diplo-
matic possibilities for the real point
of the far eastern negotiations to De.
come so interviewer with the naval
question as to prevent final deter
mination of the one independent of the