The Washington herald., 1921-07-28
JAPSACCEPT
ARMSPARLEY
BDFROMU
Presidents Conference
Plan Now Approved
Unanimously.
FORMAL INVITATION
WILL GO OUT SOON
Some Cause for Worry
Seen in Jap Desire to
Limit Program.
By ROBERT J. RENDER.

world powers for an armament limi-
tation conference at Washington Is
now unanimously approved.
with Japan's acceptance OF the
suggestion, the last to come In, de-
tails of the arrangements for the
eonclave are being perfected. and
the formal invitations will be issued
by President Harding in a short
time. November IL, Armistice Day
has been suggested as the Presi-
dents preference for a date on
which to open the conference.
Great World Event.
Embodying as it does the most
far-reaching step in the Harding
Hughes foreign policy, carrying the
possibility of a new association OF
nations, a better international un-
derstanding and with peace IN THIS
hemisphere virtually hanging upon
its success, the conference ap-
proaches as one of the gTeatest
events in world history-rankihs
alongside that Of Versailles
Ja1an's acceptance still contains
a plainly expressed desire to limit
sion. In the concluding paragraph
of her reply, she advises that the
conference avoid introduction OF
problems such as are of sole con-
cerr in certain particular powers
or matters regarded as accom-
pIished facts"
Thus there appears one possible
chance OF friction before the con-
clave convenes-the possibility thai
the United States and Japan may
not be able to agree on the agenca
which pertains to Far Eastern and
Pacific problems.
China Invited
In addition to the principal allied
and associated powers to confer on
limiting armaments, China will be
invited to participates in the discus
sion of Far Eastern questions ana
has Indicated her willingness 70 &C.
can't other powers having inter-
ests in the Far East may also be
invited TO take part in that phase
Of the discussions.
The position of Japan from TIE
first has been the one douottul rae
tor, and the nature OF her accept
ance forecasts some obstruction IN
the path Ct smooth going for the
conclave when 1t meets.
In order to insure the success
of the conference" Japan says, the
Japanese government deem II ad-
yisabIe that the agenda Thereon
should be arranged in accordance
with the main objects of the con-
ference. as stated above, and that
introduction therein of problems
such as are of sole concern to GER
T.
,ers as may be regarded accom-
plished facts SHOULD be scrupulous-
ly avoided"
Meaning Qualified.
The words "as stated above" how
ever refer to the third paragraph
of the Japanese note, which agrees
that "the main object Of discuss
ing these problems (those of the
Far East) is to reach a common
understanding in regard to gen
eral principles and policies
This. of course. the American gov
ernment has repeatedly stated was
Its purpose
As for the suggested avoidance
of such matters as may be regarded
as accomplished facts, there VIII
naturally arise the question as to
what constitutes an accomplished
fact" The status of Yap Is not
so regarded because this government
already has entered formal objec-
ton to the mandate settlement ac-
corded Japan In the case OF zap
Nor are certain arrangements made
between Japan mad China under the
famous 'twenty-one demands" pact
regarded as accomplished facts"
%
formal reservations on those set
dement's ami those reservations still
stand Also the award of German
eignts in Shantung to japan by
the Versailles treaty Is not regarded
here as final because China has new
er concurred IN it.
U. s. Gratined.
But 1t Is clearly the opinion of
this government that Japan has done
the graceful thing" in coming into
a discussion which affects her po- |
sition In the Orient so vitality. And
her acceptance was based on a COM
promise between Japan's suggestion
that the scope and subjects TO De
considered IN the Far Eastern dis
cussion be defined before she ac- |
cepted. and Hughes contention that
the aRenQa IOI SuCn dlo~eSoiO" ~
postponed until after the CONFER
ence met The compromise eject
"a IL found in the last paragraph |
of Hughes note, which reads In
.~Tbe Secretary Of State is will
ing to proceed with exchanges or
opinion regarding the agenda. prior
TO the meeting Of the conference.
While Hughes did not stipulate
that there should be inal and den-
mite drafting of such an agenda,
Japan decided to come half way
and therein is the basis for the Of
hcial , expression that she did
graceful thing.
There is. however, one bridge yet
to cross which affords a basis of
some conjecture and a little con-
Germ. While Hughes note expressed
merely a willingness to exchange
opinions regarding the agenda,~
the Japanese reply reads into
Hughes phraseology the following.
That the United States also "con-
siders it advisable to adjust in that
agenda the nature and scope of the
Paeific and Far Eastern questions
to be discussed at the conference"