New Britain herald., 1921-12-03
Chief Among These is
Understood To B e
United States Fortif-
cations in Pacific.
Other RumOrs Deal With
Abandonment of Anglo
japanese Pact and Draw
ing Up of New Treaty.

Washington, Dec. 3. (By Associate
ed Press) Negotiations in the naval
ratio question were practically at a
standstiI while the Japanese delegates
awaited further word from Toxic,
All indications were that whatever
had BEEN proposed to bring the
United States and Japan together did
not involve any abandonment of the
5-5-3 ratio proposed by the United
States, but concerned other considera-
tiOns which the Japanese regard as
necessary to them.
Against Fortifications.
Chief among these was understood
to be the question of further forti-
Pacific which the japanese wish to
see checked. The relation of fortified
bases to fleet ratio is such that there
was a suggestion the Japanese might
regard the 5-5-3 proposal as not in
consistent with their standard of ma
tional security if details regarding
them could be arranged.
There was a decided impression
among other delegates not represent
ed in yesterdays conference of the
big three" that a means of approach
to a settlement has been found out
side of any alteration of the 5-5-3.
Secrecy Maintained.
In the general discussion in con-
ference circles which has been arous-
ed by secrecy which surrounds the
latest stage of the negotiations num-
Der of considerations are being men,
toned as among those which might
accompany the agreement. One OF
these the general feeling that the
Anglo o-Japanese alliance is being dealt
with and that there soon viii appear
plan. approved by both Great Brit
ain and Japan TO abandon that much
discussed agreement and substitute it
with some other sort of agreement to
which the United States might be a
party One suggestion is for a set of
arbitration treaties between the three
powers with a provision that Japan
would not be involved in a war with
out six months or a year notice. An
other consideration being discussed
involves Japans position in China.
The general feeling among dele
gates is that concessions to Japan, il
they may be properly so termed, may
he made, which will cause her to ac-
cept the 5-5-3 intact.
Progress Reported
The latest discussions were describ-
ed by one delegtion spokeman as
having made very substantial pro-
gress" toward an agreement, and
there were growing indications, but
no official confirmation, that the ne
eotations had come to the point
where all parties were considering a
proposed agreement involving all the
major questions of the conference.
The outward evidence also indicated
that in any such agreement the qeus-
tion of naval bases in the Pacific and
the political problems of the Far
East. including the fate of the Anglo
Japanese alliance. might be bound up
IN some quarters it was felt that jap
an might want the arbitration trea-
ties as a part of her provisions for
national security in case of acceptance
OF the American naval ratio.
British Opinions
One opinion expressed in British
the conference probably would de-
pend on the ability of the American
and British governments to satisfy
Japan that she would be quite safe
in a military sense in reducing her
armament and in abandoning the
highly important strategic positions
she now occupies in Manchuria and
Siberia and some parts of China pro-
per-
IN the British view, all of these
questions are bound together; the
naval ratio, Far Eastern questions,
fortifcations; everything except Shan
tung which is in a fair way to settle
ment by direct negotiations conducted
by the principals.
Japan has impressed on the other
delegates her need for some measure
of security If the Anglo-Japanese
treaty is to be abandoned, notwith-
standing the British declration that
that pact would not apply to disputes
.trSpc latu-ppp JaDaD and America