New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-29
Britain and Japan Ask
Conference Postpone
ment, and France Nav
Follow Their Lead
British Arrange
Advance Council
Lloyd George Declared To
Be Ready to Attend Pre-
liminary' ON This Side
From Tho Tribune,s Wnshinoton B,,rs,,,

WASHINGTON, July 2s.-Postpone.
ment of the armament limitation con-
ference was urged on Secretary of
State Hughes to-day by both the Brit
lsh and Japanese ambassadors. While
nc official confirmation has been re-
ceived of the cabled dispatches from
France that the date desired by Presi-
dent Harding, November II, would not
be satisfactory, there is no reason ad-
vanced here to doubt the desire of
France to have the conference post
poned
So that while three of the five pow
ers, excluding China, desires a post
ponement, one. the United States. is
opposed to delay, and Italy has not
been heard from on this particular
point.
The urgent desire of the British is to
make arrangements that will permit
the Premiers of Australia and New
Zealand, now in England, to have time
to discuss all issues involved before
the Washington conference Sir Auck-
land Geddes in urging postpone
ment on Mr. Hughes to-day suggested
that perhaps preliminary conference
might be held in August which these
Premiers might attend on their way
home. Then, he suggested, the formal
conference could be held later. On
account of the heat here it was sug-
gested that this preliminary confer
ence be held in some city other than
Washington.
Hughes Favors Speed
1t was learned that the Administra
tion opposed this suggestion even more
strongly than it opposed a postpone
ment of the conference.
Indications tonight are that the Ad-
minlstration will be obliged to yield to
brief postponemcnt, perhaps until next
spring, though Mr.. Hughes is moving
heayen and earth to bring the British
and Japanese to his point of view, SO
that an agreement may be reached
speedily and the heavy armament ex-
penses of the powers involved be cur
tailed as soon as possible.
The objection expressed by Ambassa-
dor Shidehara is that his Foreign Office
does not believe it would be possible ir
the brief time before November IL te
compile the data its representatives
would require.
Both President Harding and Secre-
tary Hughes have known for some days
as has been pointed out, that the Brit
ish dominion Premiers desired Il post
ponement. The view taken by the Ad-
ministra tion, however, has been that the
conference on armament limitation
Pacific and Far Eastern questions was
of far too great concern to be post
poned, except for strong reasons.
This view had been made known
Informally to the British, so that it
was with some surprise to-day that
Administration officials learned that
not only were the British urging post
ponement, but that the japanese, on a
different plea, were urging the same
thing.
Real Reason Uncertain
In some we'll informed quarters it is
believed that the japanese are anxious
to have certain questions smoothed out
before the meeting Of the conference
and that this, rather than the reason
assigned-lack of time to compile the
data their representatives. may need
is the real explanation of their desire
for more time.
Whatever may be the real reason, the
fact that there are now three powers
Of the big five urging postponement
with the possibility that another, Italy
may join them, caused a very strong
impression here tonight that this gov
ernment would accept the situation and
make the best of it.
1t was pointed out by one very high
official that after all the time would
not be entirely lost, as informal con-
versations and exchanges of views
would continue, perhaps leading toward
a condition where an agreement might
be much more speedily reached when
the conference formally meets.
LONDON, July % (By The Associ-
ated Press).-It was stated in official
circles here to-day that meeting pre-
liminary to the Washington conference
on disarmament, Pacific and Far East
ern problems, to be held within six
weeks at some Canadian city or a city
in the United States other than Wash
ington. was virtually a certainty, al
though it was admitted that the at
titude of Washington on such an ar
rangement was as yet unknown in Lon
don.
The program Of the Washington
conference would be arranged at the
preliminary meeting.
Mr.. Lloyd George, the Prime Minis
ter, plans to head the British repre-
sentatives, while Premier Hughes OF
Australia and Premier Massey of New
Zealand also would attend the meeting
on their way to their homes.