The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-11-16
UNITED STATES
FEELS ITSELF
LESS CONCERNED
Great Britain, Also a Rec
ognized Leader, Seemed
to Be Little Disposed to
Take the Initiative,
China and Japan Want
to Get in Touch With the
Spirit of the Conference

Washington, d. c., Nov. 10 tby tht
Associated Press Problems OF .he
far cast, whose solution Is adJudgeo
an integral part of the question o'
ornaments, took the center OF atten'
tion at the arms conference to-day
while the plan for reduction OF naval
establishments was passing through
neriod Of technical examination at the
hands Of committee of experts.
For the first time the delegations OF
the United States, Great Britain, ia.
pan. France, Italy, China, Belgium
Portugal and the Netherlands, acting
as a committee of the whole on the Tar
eastern questions, assembled for pre-
liminary discussion and to lay plans
for procedure
Z In contrast to the manner IN whicn
the conference tackled the armament
problem on its opening day, the repre-
sentatives Of the powers went into to-
DAYS committee meeting waiting on
one another to speak first about the
intricate questions that long have trou-
bled diplomatic relations in the Pacific
and the Orient. OF course, every MAJ
tion had a rather concrete idea OF the
principles it meant to present once the
negotiations began, but no one seemed
anxious to break the ice.
The attitude Of the United States is
that the interest of this government is
not nearly so direct in the far eastern
situation as it was in the question OF
ornaments. Both China and Japan ap-
peared to prefer to wait and familiar
ize themselves with the atmosphere Of
the conference before laying down their
views in detail Great Britain also had
failed to give any indication of a will
lingness to take the initiative. while all
the other powers felt that their more
or less remote relationship to the far
eastern tangle should prompt them TO
remain in the background for the pres
cnt.
The general prediction was that as
result the task of drafting a method
OF procedure would be entrusted to a
smaller committee, just az details of
the naval armaments program have
been left temporarily to the committee
of naval experts. In the case Of the far
eastern questions. however, it was ex
pected that all nine of the nations rep
resented here would have membership
on the committee and would unite their
influence to hasten the committee work
30 that the far eastern discussions
might take rank as soon as possible
abreast Of the more advanced ncgotia-
Sions on armament.
While the delegates were beginning
their actual consideration OF the second
big topic on the program of the confer
ence, the naval experts committee of
the five powers held its first meeting
and compared impressions Of details
Of the American reduction plan accept
ed yesterday in spirit and principle by
all the powers.
China Reported to Have Plan.
The impression prevailed before the
session of far eastern questions that
DIR. Sze, Ehina's representative, would
present a proposal which would serve
as the basis of discussion. This pro-
posal was understood in some quar-
ters to provide a settlement OF the far
eastern problem, especially with re-
spect TO China, on the basis of com
plete territorial Integrity for China.
including Shantung, complete freedom
Of action for China, and universal rec
ognition of the open door.
Prospects were that the delegates
would remain in session well into the