Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-11-21
Premier BRAND Will EX,
plain Frances Position on
This Issue Today
NAVAL PLAN SOON
Secretary Hughes Reported Willing
to Compromise All Points Except
Capital Ships.

Washington Nov. Zl.-Nltn pros
pect of success far beyond the anti
cipation of the veteran statesmen in
attendance, the International Confer
ence on Limitation of Armament be-
gins it's second week by getting down
to brass tacks on the multitude OF
concrete questions involved in its
program.
The last of the preliminaries will be
staged tomorrow when there vii! be
an open session of the Conference for
the express purpose of permitting Nj.
BRAND, the French Premier, to inau-
gurate the discussion Of reduction and
limitation of land armaments by stat
ing the position Of France on this
question. Then the Premier will go
home, leaving the army curtailment
problem as side issue of the Con-
ference, which is expected to leave
it in turn to the consideration Of
some future council of the powers.
Having concluded this plenary ses-
sion, which is likely to be the last for
some time, the Conference will pro-
ceed with the consideration of the
naval holiday plan and the Far East
ern problem in secret committee meet
ings.
Despite the efforts of Japan to mod
ify the Hughes plan so as to obtain a
greater proportional strength in capi-
tai ships and in airplane carriers and
of Great Britain to obtain a different
system of replacement, there is every
reason to expect comparatively
early agreement on reduction and
limitation of naval armament. That
will register success in the main OBJ
.iective of the Conference, ard with
the attainment of that end Presi-
dent Harding and Secretly of State
Hughes do not intend TO permit con-
siderations pertaining to other ques-
tions to interfere.
Some there are who feel the Japan
csc will prolong consideration of the
armament question with view to
wringing concessions from the United
States in the settlement Of Far East
ern questions before yielding on the
navy restriction plan.
The authorized spokesmen for
Japans delegation however have
stated that Japan is ready to join
with the United States and Great
Britain in reaching an agreement on
armaments without reference to other
matters.
Mr.. Hughes is willing to COM
promise on features Of the American
plan evcept that relating to capital
ships, and the British take the same
stand. Consequently when a fair COM
promise has been evolved the Jap
anesa, it is believed, will find it the
part of wisdom to accept without
further ado.
Prospects of success in settling the
Far Eastern and Pacific questions are
decidedly less roseate. Compared with
this one the armament question is sim
plicity itself. When it comes to the
conflicting national interests in the
Orient the Conference will deem itself
lucky to produce half loaf, leaving
the dough for the other half to some
future international conference, pos
sibly at Toxic.
Japan does not intend to give up the
foothold she has obtained in Man
churia, though she is willing to COM
promise with the powers on questions
relating to China proper-that is, the
is provinces within the Great Wall.
exclusive of Manchuria, Mongolia and
Tibet. The British, who have control
of outer Tibet, are supporting the
japanese position as to Manchuria.
Secretary Hughes would have all
the leases. grants and secret agree
ments as regards to China thrown or
the table and examined by the Con-
ference, with view to determine
their validity, wiping out those deem
ed invalid and agreeing on the termi-
nation of the others on basis fair
to the holders of property rights there
under. Japan is unwilling to do this,
and her resistance will be the center
of the discussion and of the diplo-
matte maneuvering in and about the
Conference henceforth.