Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-12-09
WAITING WORD FROM
FRANCE AND JAPAN
on PACIFIC PACT
rokio's Attitude Supposed to be
Wholly In Favor OF Four
Power Treaty.
BRITAIN ACCEPTS THE PLAN

NV \srntft'HN litN~ W tsN''N fFf''''pH
Washington. Dec. .. y. m.-'So
encouraging situation has de-
,.iopcd IN the arms negotiations
that some OF the delegates
hcgan open session OF the confer
.nce tu be called early next week
to announce agreement on the b-5-
aneval ratio and the quadruple ar
rnngement proposed as substi-
tat, FOR the AnglO-lapancse alli-
ance,
There are intimations that tho
negotiations are 40 close TO n set
,l,mcnt that some conference Of
ncials had expected an open ses-
sion tt-lay or tomorrow While
the exact nature of the forthcom-
ins announcement cannot be fore
cast, a. seems probable that I'm ad-
alilon tn the naval ratio and the
four. power plan n may embody
some formal prcnouncement OF
tho principles on which the confer
ence expects to limit fortircatlon.
and naval bases in the Pacific.
Add. cad An Waiting Word From
Definite decision on the naval ratio
question ls now believed To hinge on n
satisfactory solution of the problem
uf national bases and island fortifica-
tions. Tho matter of land ermaments
un American and British possessions
ivinr near the Japanese empire has
lonr been linked In the minds of
Japanese with possibility OF reducing
the Japanese navy.
Tho Japanese delegation. while on
route tu the United states, intimated
that japan desired 90 have nee'
strong enough Co cope with any heo'
that any nation could send To the
waters ~ the Far Fast.
rhis IL explained ns meaning that
.iappn does not expect and does not
d.sire u navy NJ large as the United
states aud Great Britain, but a. In
aicnting that naval bases along ths
l.tturai ~ Aaia should not be strength
encd as tn AFFORD protection Tor hos
tle npet ALREADY superior In numbers
a. the Japanese.
Washington, Dee. e.-1he rapidly
moving arms conferences had reachsd
l.nlnt ~ comparative pause to-day
with the Far Eastern committee In ad-
inurnneut unul tomorrow and the
neat important step IN the negotiations
Vn naNai tptio and the proposed four
pnu,.r treaty apparently waiting on a
definite step ~ the attitude of the
japanese government. Meanwhile the
iapane~n and chinese delegations
we're HchCdulssi to hold another sos-
snn today ~ their separate conferences
NJ the Shantuns question, discussion
az tho restoration 80 China OF the
yuhlV properties In the iapanosc
ics~chold thorc having been continued
srs,~>in, without final disposition.
A. q major roature IN the prospec-
~v. agreement. the question ~ liumts-
,ion ~ fortincations and naval bases
AZ the Pacific islands had bcon brought
into plNminonco For the FIRST tim.
'utiaN Although tho subject has not
advanced o. tho stana OF formal eN.
changes. the American delegates hay'
plvon assumncos to tho Japanese that
q would ho considered az a natura
,nllnfarV ~ the naval reduction plar
and Indications punt to an ultimate
agreement on the principle of atan.
aonins further development OF iSlant
a f.nrcs.
Press reports that tho Japanes
government had decided 10 accept IN
four power treaty plan for preserving
ivare IN the Pacific conditional on ai
agreement on tho naval ratio an
further application of the American
"fnur points TO China. were accepte'
here ss further emphasizing the In
terdopcndvnco ~ the negotiations oi
those problems and as supporting tn
opinion that they would be advance,
simultaneously 90 the point OF a gen
sral understanding on all sepsrat
treaties and agreements that woul
rrmnin 90 h. drawn up 90 cover then
Definite word was awaited from tn
French government today as well "A
from Toxic as 90 acceptance OF IN
yflncipl. ~ the proposed four powe
treaty, An early favorable respons
from France was looked for In repl
10 the recommendation of it's delegate
that their government accept a plac
In the now arrangement. The Britis
government n understood 20 have nj
ready accepted the proposal In prin
siric. and the American delegates hav
proceeded 10 the pCint of indicatin
y willingness 90 discuss details.