The St. Mary banner., 1921-12-03
THE ARMS PARLEY
AT WASHINGTON
Negotiations Under Way at
Capital Attracts World
Wide Attention.

Washington-A continuing series OF
international conferences, whose frui-
tion may be an association OF ma
tions," has been suggested informally
by President Harding to some OF the
arms delegates. and has met With their
general approval.
The suggestion has by no means
reached the point of d definite propos
al for such an association, but 1t was
revealed Friday that the presidents
personal conversations with foreign
spokesmen on the subject had greatly
increased his hope for new day IN
international elatiOnship as result
Of the Washington conference,
1t was indicated further that as
first step towards worldwide recogni-
ton for the conference plan the results
of the negotiations here might be sub
mitted for approval not only to the
participating nations but to those not
represented here including Germany
and Russia.
SO far as the suggestions OF Mr.
Harding have been made known. they
contemplate meeting OF nations
about the council table once year to
thresh out troublesome questions and
devise means for the preservation OF
peace.
Despite supplemental estimates to
support the japanese claims Tor a
higher ratio of tonnage than proposed
in Secretary Hughes naval limitation
plan, American naval experts, 1t was
asserted Friday, on authority, llnd no
reason to revise their original estl-
mate of the relative naval strength OF
the three powers. That estimate, so
far as Japan is concerned, is reflected
in the 5-5-3 ratio proposed by the
United States, while Japan is under
stood to claim that the ratio should
approximate 10-10-7.
The arguments of the Japanese ex-
perts as to Japans right to more ca
ital ship tonnage i'll proportion to the
other powers than Secretary Hughes
plan provided for, were based, II is
known, on series of recapitulations
of existing building and projected Jap
anese tonnage Viewed from any of
these angles, the Japanese experts ar
gued, the Japanese navy came closer
to standing at 70 per cent of the Amer
lean strength than the 60 per cent pro-
vided for by the Hughes plan.
Washington.-Whe the arms dele
gates quit work for the Thanksgiving
Dav recess these considerations em-
braced the central points of interest
in the discussions:
Whether the effort to apply gener-
ally accepted principles to specific
cases in the Far East would bring defl-
mite accomplishments or lead to futile
debate.
Whether in view Of the position OF
France and the general situation in
Europe, any serious attempt should be
made to agree on limitation of land
armament.
Whether way can be found to hast
en- consideration of details of the
naval limitation plan, which is pro-
ceeding smoothly, but too slowly to
satisfy some of the delegates.
OF these questions, the first was
brought sharply to the fore Wednes-
day by several direct clashes of opin-
ion regarding elements of the Far
Eastern negotiations. At Wednesdays
executive session of the nine delega-
tions, the right of the Chinese dele
gates to speak for the whole of China
was reported to have been questioned
by France, and later British interpre-
tation of the principles already adopt
ed was challenged by some OF the
Chinese.