The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-12-21
HARDINC'S VIEWS
ON TREATY CAUSE
WARM INTEREST.
President Says Diverg-
ence of Opinion VIII
Not Delay Ratification
China and Japan At
Deadlock Over Shan
tung Issue-Economic
Question Up


Washington Dec. 21.-(By the AS
sociated Press.) THE British delega-
ton today cancelled reservations it
had made on steamer sailing from
New York on December 81. 1t was
3tated members OF the delegation
.hink there is little chance of their
being abe to leave before the middle
Of January.
Washington, Dec. 21.-(By the AS
sociated Press. )--Developme OF the
difference in view between President
Harding and the American arms dele
gates as to application of the new
four-power Pacific treaty and break
in the Chinese-Japanese negotiations
on Shantung had thrown the naval
side of the arms conference program
today somewhat into the background.
Acceptance by France of the Ameri-
can proposal of $4,000 tons in capi-
tai ships had placed the naval nego-
tiations on comparatively smooth
road again. although the French res
ervations for higher ratio in small
defensive craft still remained to be
treated
Announcing that he had mo obiec-
ton to the construction of the Paci-
iic treaty agreed to by the American
delegates, that it shall apply to the
principal islands of the Japanese en-
pire, President Harding declared in a
formal statement. issued after he had
expressed the opinion in an interview
with newspaper men yesterday that it
did not apply to those islands, that
the difference in view in no wise will
be permitted to embarrass the confer
ence or the ratification of the agree
ment."
The presidents statement. issued
after a two-hour conference with Sen
farors Lodge and Underwood, of the
American delegation, was the first in
formation that an understanding ex-
listed among the delegates as to the
application of the treaty The presi-
dents expression of opinion on the
matter, although said by officials
close to him to have been made with
out consultation with his state de-
partment advisers and without any in
tention of announcing the admins
tration's attitude, created at once an
evident desire among the Americans.
British, Japanese and French alike
that the attitude of the American
government be clarified.
Baron Kato, head of the Japanese
delegation, and one of those who
showed greatest interest in the presi-
dents attitude, Said prior to Mr..
Harding's formal statement that a
pledge of secrecy prevented him from
divulging whether there had been an
agreement as to application 4of the
treaty. He added that. the meaning
adopted at the time of signing might
be changed in the future, so | can
say nothing at this time"
Far Eastern matters had assumed
added prominence today through the
abrupt adjournment yesterday of the
Shantung conferences between the
Chinese and Japanese delegates after
the latter had announced they could
proceed no further on the question of
restoration of the Kiaochow railway
control to China without referring
certain points to- Toxic for instruc-
'iOh' NNiIhouSu Tie duJOuTHIH6HC came
with the delegations also still far
apart on the questions of financial set
tlement by China for the road the
chief stumbling block, regarded as
threatening the entire Shantung set
tlement, the Japanese proposal that
Japanese experts be appointed in the
service of the railway.
TIE naval situation renamed more
or less at standstill today while the
French delegates were understood to
be preparing definite proposal as to
the amount of auxiliary naval ton
mage, including submarines. desired
as a condition to their acceptance Of
the 175,000 ton proportion for capital
ships, to be proposed at the meeting
of the committee of the whole on lin
itation of armaments tomorrow.