Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-11-30
wEpNrspAY. NovEMnEn 80, 1921.
Adjournment by Christmas

MYTH an agreement practically reached
w upon a formula for limiting naval
armament and with an open invitation from
President Harding for series OF confer
erce IN the future, some OF the foreign
delegations to the Washington conference
rare pressing for an early adjournment They
take the position that the whole OF the
agenda need not be dealt with 1T q single
session; that more could be accomplished
III the end If less were undertaken in the
beginning, and the world would be satisfied
and gratiiied ii navios were limited now and
other problems were deferred, with the as
suranCe, of course, That they would be set
tied in time.
III the present conference comes TO an end
without some settlement OF the Far East
ern problems there is bound TO be measure
o. disappointment among Occidental nations
US well az in the Orient, just as there has
been disappointment over The general agree
ment to SiGetrack the issue of land arma-
ment But If the question Of future sea
power is answered on the basis OF the orig
mai American proposal, with nothing more
accomplished, il cannot be said that the
conference has failed ii 10 that is added a
declaration from all parties at interest that
the Anglo-Japanese alliance will DO thrown
into the discard upon the date of it's en-
piration, then the whole world will have
reason TO applaud the work done in Wash
ingIon whatever major or minor matters
are reserved for other conferences
1t is OF course. natural that AIR. Hughes
and his associates should discourage an adj
journment Of The Washington conference
without approaching finally the problem of
China's integrity OF China's torritoriality
and OF Chinas right't0 fmIiction as free
ard sovereign nati0n. 4 settlement out OF
court OF the Shantung issue, promised in
many Japanese quarters, would be an i'm
portant move III The direction OF bstter re-
latlohs, Just as would the settlement OF the
zap controversy outside the conference
chamber
This would not wholly safeguard the in
teresis OF China or the interests of Amer
ICE in China and Mr.. Hughes would bo omi-
nehty justified in pressing here ana now
foI an answer TO all Far Eastern Questions
II is conceivable, however, that The arenda
covered too much ground Tor single con
ference As a matter oil fact it was the
american program 10 take up ornaments
without reference 10 the Far East and only
al Inc 'hslstence OF Great Britain did the
American government consent 10 a broaden
ing OF The conference iabors 10 include all
racine problems that might bear directlv
upon the maintenance of uDnecessary CO..
power.
There need be no chagrin on tha mart ~
the American delegation. therefore If tboy
conclude, after weighing the situaiion ,na
consulting with other delegations. tbat I,
"ouid De better 10 postpone some OF tbo
ploplcms Tor future conferences providad
there is an iron-clad agreement upon naval
armament, and that the Anglo-.Iapanese
alliance be terminated
This government should not consen, .,
s an adjournment, until satisfactory nssnr,
ances are received that the alliance viii mn,
4 De renewed. II such pledge is given !,
VIII be farN easier TO deal with the unse,,,o,
problems of the Far East when renresnn'
tatives' OF the powers 30 into conlercncs
a second time.