The Washington herald., 1921-11-08


was much speculation in conference
quarters concerning this program.
The very interest displayed every
where was proof enough that the
Americans are right in reserving
all information. The experts of all Of
the delegations are just waiting to
see what the United States hopes
for, to get their own plans into
working order. And any premature
publication at this time might very
easily upset the entire proA-am-
The Herald correspondents were
quizzed at every delegation head
quarters concerning the general
scope OF the American plan The
published reports that the United
States naval experts believe that an
immediate halt in the construction
of capital war craft Is possible has
caused sharp differences of opinion
In rival quarters. The problem of
preponderance of naval power as
applied TO defensive operations Is
one on which the experts are d.
vided. And this inevitably must be
a matter OF prolonged and serious
discussion.
China Centers Dispute.
China in the outcome Is becoming
more and more manifest. The sec
ond section of the conference agenda
dealing with the problems Of the
Far East and Of the Pacific centers
around China and the problems In
which that nation Is involved. The
fact that the State Department has
been compelled to make representa-
tions to Pekin because of the de-
fault in the payment of the obliga-
tions of the Chinese government to
the, Continental and Commercial
Savings Bank of Chicago admittedly
was at least unfortunate at the
present time The explanation made
by Chinese oficial sources that the
default was due to changes In the
government was not well received.
But the very fact that a default
in payments could be permitted at
the present time was argued to con-
firm suggestions that the present
government Of China was not the
stable organization that could be
given a free hand in any program
that might be worked out here.
Gives Weapon to Foes.
OF course the United States does
not plan to collect the defaulted
debt by force. But the element now
In washington which Is opposed to
the demands of the Chinese delega-
tion that the powers insist on ter
rItorial integrity being guaranteed
China and that concessions hlched
from her be returned, were given
an argument that will prove potent
AGAINST any action they would line
up the majority Of the delegation
on the side Of the Celestial king
dom.
Incidentally in discussing the
changes that seem to have taken
place in the Japanese position our
ing the last few weeks conference
experts yesterday attributed II 10
the chaotic conditions now prevail
ing In China The very fact tn2t
civil war Is In progress and tna'
armed bodies Of brigands are plum
dering in many parts OF the ma
tfon was believed to have been an
Inaueptial factor in persuading the
military party now in control In
Tokyo to announce that they were
willing to make very material con-
cessions to make the present con-
ference a complete success.
Chinese Unrest Affects japan.
ofacials pointed out that the un-
rest in China was SO widespread
that 1t must Of necessity have a
very influential effect on the Japa-
pese people and that therefore the
Tokyo government must at least
assume the attitude OF holding out
the olive branch at the conference
. table.
\ with a stable government In
China and the various powers In
agreement that the Chinese re-
sources were not to be exploited
by any nation or group Of nations.
an amicable settlement Of the Far
Eastern problem would be certain.
But none of the powers that are
the guests Of theIUnited states viii
be a position to offer a program
that would assure such settle
ment. The larger powers are per-
sonally interested and the Anglo
Japanese alliance must cause any
proposition fathered by either of
these two nations to be Viewed with
suspicion. So the foreign repre-
sentatives will look to the Ameri-
can delegation for leadership on
this as on the Limitation of arma-
ment problem.
VIII Outline French Position.
Inasmuch as Premier BRAND
again explained last night that he
could remain here not more than
two weeks and Premier Lloyd
George of Great Britain cannot
possibly reach here within that
time. IL is unlikely that the pair
will participate Jointly in any of
the early proceedings OF the con-
ference. Premier BRAND expects to
remain here simply to outline
clearly the position that France has
taken toward the conference. In
his statement made on arrival he
has stated that France will work
at all times to aid in ending war.
However. he has as yet to take
public position on how far the con-
ference should go and what prob
lens should be considered by II.
Such a statement Is promised after
he has had opportunity to con-
fer with President Harding and
Secretary Hughes and to talk
things over with his own colleagues
and experts.
Opposition to Publicity.
1t was reported last night that
France will oppose any wholesale
publicity in the meetings of the
delegates. As at Paris, when the
Versailles treaty was under con-
sideration. the French delegates
take the position that IL will be inn
possible to deal with problems that
usually lead to war In an open gath
ering where free debate might be
misunderstood.