Evening star., 1921-12-12

announced by Secretary Hughes at
OF the Washington conference tods
separate treaty between the United
The details of the settlement
this afternoon.
When the new four-power treaty
with regard to the Pacific islands was
laid before the conference Saturday
by Senator Lodge of the American
delegation. he announced that one OF
the conditions of it's ratification by
the United States would be settle
ment of the Island of zap contro-
versN.
Negotiations between the United
States and Japan had been on for
sometime regarding zap before the
Washington conference met.
The treaty settling the Yap con-
troversy has been drawn up. but not
yet signed. 1t is said to give. the
United States cable rights in Yap
and other rights in Yap similar to
those held by Japan.
~Big Three" Meets Today.
A meeting Of the Big Three.
Secretary Hughes, Arthur ]. Balfour
and Admiral Baron Kato. heads of the
United States, British and Japanese
delegations to the Washington con-
ference. to discuss further the ques-
tion of the naval ratio of their coun-
tries, will be held this afternoon. II
was stated on high authority today.
The prediction further was made
that an agreement would be reached
on this important question satisfac-
tory to all three. The iudteatiops ara
strong that the $3.50 ratio, on the
basis of existing naval strength, will
be the final settlement of the question.
Toxic Instructions Received.
The instructions of the Toxic gov
ernment in regard to the question of
naval ratio, in reply to messages sent
from here by the japanese delegates,
have been received, making 1t pos
sibIe for Baron Kato to continue the
negotiations on the matter. The con-
tents Of these Instructions. however.
are withheld, for the present, from
the public.
1t was intimated today. however,
that several meetings Of the conferees
might be necessary before the mat
ter is adjusted. In the first place, the
Japanese are particularly anxious to
lave a settlement on the question of
the fortiications in the Pacific.
An understanding with the United
States. for instance. that fortifications
are not to be augmented, but the
status quo would be maintained,
would be very helpful in the settle
ment of the naval ratio. The Japa-
neSe are extremely deSirous also of
reaching some kind Of an agreement
the Mutsu, which would be scrapped
under the American plan.
Officials Are Optimistic.
The greatest optimism was evinced
in official quarters today that not
only would there be satisfactory set
tlement of the naval ratio question,
but also of the other matters before
the conference.
AS bearing out this feeling of opti-
mism, announcement was made that
Mr.. Balfour and Lord Lee of Fare
ham, two of the British delegates
to the conference, planned to sail
for home December 81. Also NJ
viviani, head of the French delega-
tion, Is planning to sail on Wednes-
day of this week, in the belief that
his presence here is no longer i'm
perative. r
The British Ambassador. Sir Auck-
Land Geddes. one Of the British dele
gates, will of course. remain in Wash
ington, and Ambassador Jusserand Of
France also will be here to act for
France in connection with the con-
of ho
year.
Other Ratio to BE Taken Up.
With the settlement of the naval
ratio of the United States. Great
Britain >and Japan, in capital ships,
there will be taken the question of
the naval ratio of France and Italy.
The submarine question also must
be dealt with, and the proposed ten
year naval building holiday In its
details.
The British will advance a strong
claim, it was said, that the tonnage
of the submarines be cut below the
90 900 tons allowed Great Britain and
the United States, and that there be
a proportionate reduction in the sub
marine tonnage allowed Japan. The
British also will strongly urge that
the submarines be limited in size. SO
as to exclude the submarine with a
wide cruising radius. sufficient to
make them an offensive rather than
a defensive weapon.
Want Death for submarine.
The British. 1t has been explained
by Mr.. Balfour. would be glad to see
,be submarine done away with en-
tirely. But they are not likely to
push such a claim, knowing that the
other nations are not so inclined. But
they do propose that this conference.
called for the limitation of arma-
ment, shall. il possible. result in q
reduction of the tonnage OF sub
marines all around, rather than to
permit the building of additional ton
mage of this kind.
The United States has taken the
position that the submarine Is q wea-