The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-12-07
JAPAN NAMES
SUBS AS PRICE
OF NAVAL CUTS
Will Back British If British
Back Jap Program.
Wants as Many Boats as
America or None.
AGREEMENT TO TALK ONLY
Americans in Arms Conference
Deny RumOrs of Entente.
What's Behind Closed Doors Of
Farley Remains Mystery.

Washington, Dec. Japan has
n do her acceptance of the obs
Hughes naval program contingent
upon a. understanding" being
reached concerning American forttfi-
cations the Pacific, according to in
formation prevailing today in usually
inspired British sources.
A spokesman for the British dele
cation conveyed the information to
the press reporters that if American
fo-tifications in the Pacific are to be
retained, Japan might feel con-
strained to seek a higher naval ra-
to-" th7.t proposed in the Hughes
program.
Toxic and London Know.
The same British authority said
that the recent private conversation
between Secretary Hughes. Baron
Kato and A. J. Balfour had dealt with
these Pacific problems in order to
avoid future difficulties"
According to British spokesmen.
no guarantees were involved in the
conversations. but they resulted in
notes being dispatched to both Toxic
and London. The nature of the COM
munications was not revealed. It was
under consideration will take care OF
the Anglo-Japanese alliance"
The four power agreement being
considered by the United States, Great
Britain and France. It was learned to-
day from official American sources.
would be an agreement for Joint con-
sultations on any matters affecting in
terests of those nations in the Pacific
Islands and not an alliance or tech
nical entente. The agreement is IN
form. il was said, and If accepted IS
to be submitted to the senate.
Abolish Anglo-Jap Pact.
The proposed undertaking Is de-
signed to do away with the Anglo
Japanese alliance and proposals have
gone to Japan for renunciation of that
alliance if the new agreement should
be consummated. AS now under ne
gotiations the agreement is to be linn
tied to the Pacific Islands. Under the
tentative proposals each of the pow
ers would agree to consult each other
before going to war on any differ
ences that might arise relating to those
islands.
The { -reement, American officials
said, would not deal with fortification
in the Pacific nor with questions re-
lati~~ to the Island of Yap, neither
would 1t deal with any matters affect
ing China but only those relating to
The questions at issue between the
United States and Japan relating to
cable facilities and other matters af-
fecting the Island of Yap are to be dealt
with in a separate treaty which was
said to be near completion.
The proposed four-power agree
ment to deal with the Pacific islands
is said to have already been given
approval in principle by British repre-
sentatives at the Washington confer
ence. The substance of the proposed
treaty also. it was said, has been
cabled to Toxic and Paris. The formal
responses of the British japanese and
French governments still remain to be
received. however.
The Washington conferences resuna-
ed its secret labors today with the
question of an entente or an agree
ment" between the principal powers
involved uppermost in the minds OF
the delegates.
What really is going on behind the
scenes of the conference in the way
of Pacific and Far East agreements
remains a mystery which Americas
spokesmen decline to clear up.
VIII Be No Alliances.
One member Of the American deIe-
cation declared positively there would
be no agreement come out OF the con-
ference which by any stretch OF inter-
probation could be termed an ALI
United c.ates. Great Britain. Japan,
Hrance or Italy. He admitted, how
ever. that the question of a gentle
mems agreement" or an Understands
ing was another matter.
Another member Of the American
delegation in a position TO speak au-
thoritatively contented himself with
saying that nothing he had seen IN
print bearing on the reported entente
had any foundation in fact whatso-
ever" He denied there has been any
thing of a formal nature laid before
the governments concerned.
Japs to Back British.
Japan Will support Great Britain IN
her efforts to bring about a reduction
In submarine tonnage under the
Hughes naval program, it was learn
ed in an authoritative quarter today.
The japanese delegation also IS pre-
pared TO stand behind Mr.. Baifour in
his contention that the tonnage of In
dividual submersibles should be ma
terially restricted.
In return for this support, Japan
expects Great Britain to assist her IN
securing a quota of submarines equal
to that Of the United States and Great
Britain in place Of the 5-5-3 ratio
accorded in the present Hughes plane
Japan's determination to back the
British attempt to cut down the sub
marine tonnage allotted under the
Hughes plan, is not based upon hu-
manitarian scruples for the use of the
undersea craft. but upon very prsc-
tical considerations and economy ana
efficiency in naval preparation Ad-
miral Baron Kato. head Of the Japan
delegation. fully appreciates the vsiua
of the subma arine. both as a Weapon of
defense and for use upon the COM