The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-12-02
ASSOCIATED ness Dispatch.l


Washington, d. c.. December l.
The situation resulting from Japan's
formal proposal that the sixty per
cent naval ratio allotted her under
the American limitation plan to be in
creased tn seventy per cent was re-
garded by American officials today as
a delicate one but not without hope
that her spokesman ultimately would
accept the original plan.
Entirely removed from the stage of
technical discussion as to the basis of
calculating the naval ratios on pres
ent neet strength, the question today,
through the formal request of Baron
Admiral Kato, senior Japanese dele
gate, that the increased ratio be rec
ogniZed as necessary to Japan'S Sc
curity had become a matter of policy
for settlement by the plenary dele
gates of the powers and not by their
technical advisers. The proposal on
this ground, it was known today, has
Leen presented personally by Baron
Kato to Secretary Hughes and Arthz
legation. with the full saIppost - -
said of the Japanese government.
Position of American Delegates
Regarding the argument of national
security, the American delegates and
experts, lacked by the opinion of the
British delegates hold that its logical
application would mean a reduction
rather than an increase in the naval
ratio proposed for Japan, to which, it
is known on authority they are as
strongly opposed on that basis as on
the showing of existing fleet compari-
sons. With the sub committee of
experts Of the big three" naval pow.
ers at formal disagreement On adj
.journing yerterday as to the basis to
De used for these comparisons, it was
considered today that further pro.
gress could lay only in discussion be
twoen the American and japanese
delegates.
The Shantung CONTROVERSY -
Dividing attention with the naval
situation today was the first meeting
Japan, with Secretary Hughes and
Arthur ]. Balfour, as respective heads
of the American and British groups,
to lay basis for negotiations looking
to settlement Of the celebrated
Shantung controversy.
The Chinese delegates announced
after accepting the American and
British offer of good offices" in the
controversy that they were entering
the discussions prepared to accept
nothing less than unconditional with
tung. In the az sence of any definite
indication Of attitude it was assumed
that the Japanese spokesman would
contend for the reservations insisted
on in the recent diplomatic exchange
etH oen Toxic and Picking.
Procedure In Shantung Tansie.
The Chinese arms conference dele
cation in the direct negotiations on
the Shantung question, inaugurated
today, will, according to Chinese
spokesman, proceed on the basis that
there is only two points on which Chi
ma is prepared to negotiate and that
Tao be declared an open port and ia
pans demand that vested interested
be respected. The latter would b
only partially susceptible to negotia-
ton.
China, it was stated. cannot nego-
tate control Of the Using Tao Tsi-
Nau Flu railroad ad has not receded
from her position taken at Versailles
that Shantung be Internationally re-
turned by Japan.
Views of British Delegate
No conference is deadlocked until
all OF the delegates have packed up
their things and gone home" said the
spokesman of the British delegation
today commenting on the situation
which developed yesterday in the fail
OF the naval experts to reach an
agreement on the tonnage ratio.
The spokesman explained there ap-
pears to be a misunderstanding as to
the procedure in such cases. AS a
matter of fact, he said, only the board
of naval experts so far had acted up
on the question of ratio. It is now
with the civilians. Secretary Hughes,
Mr.. Balfour and Baron Kato. Even il
they should fail to agree, the subject
he said, would then go to the 1--WE
powers and only in case of their fail
ure of the naval experts to reach an
cred deadlocked.
II do not believe that this confer
ence is going to break down over a
a ratio question of ten per cent" he
said referring to Japan's request for
a ratio of 70 per cent as against the
American proposal of so per cent
!