Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-07-28

A comprehensive consideration of the
conference program before the dele
gates actually assembled, also was
suggested in the japanese note and
now is regarded as assured. The atti-
tude of officials here has been that
such a discussion would be entirely in
place once all the invited powers had
definitely accepted invitations. A por
ton of the Japanese reply which at
tracted particular attention here was
a paragraph declaring it the sense of
the Japanese government that during
the conference problems such as are
of sole concern to certain particular
powers or such matters that may be
regarded accomplished facts should be
scrupulously avoided"
Forecast Of Attitude.
It was made plain, however, that Of
ficials were regarding this statement
not as a condition of acceptance by
Japan but as a forecast of the attitude
she will take when the negotiations
over the conference program begin.
lit is pointed out here that Japan
IT the outset Of her note agrees to
discussion of such subjects as may be
regarded as bearing directly on disar-
mament says in specific terms that
she is willing to talk about Pacific and
far eastern questions.
Refers to Yap Question.
Although officials withheld comment
it was recalled here in connection with
the japanese reference to "such mat
ters as may be regarded accomplished
facts" that the japanese ambassador
at London recently indicated that his
government would not care to discuss
questions like Shantung and Yap be-
cause it regards them as having been
settled by the treaty of Versailles. In
other quarters, however, it has been
pointed out that the Versailles treaty
Is not recognized by China so far as
Shantung is concerned, and that the
United States has not consented to the
trcatys terms, leading to Yap and
other mandate territories, SO that IN
each case an open question is raised
which would seem to make further ne
gotiations necessary.
The Japan Note.
The text Of the Japanese reply fol-
lows:
1.-THE japanese government has taken
note of the contents of the American
memorandum of July %, received
through the American charge d'affaires
in reply to the Japanese memorandum
of July Is on the subject of con- |
ference in the limitation of armaments
to be held in Washington.
at has been brought to the knowl- |
edge of the Japanese government that |
the government of the United States is
willing to proceed with exchanges of |
opinion regarding the agenda prior to |
the meeting Of the conference and that |
it considers it advisable to adjust in |
that agenda the nature and scope of the |
Pacific and far eastern questions to be |
discussed at the proposed conference. |
The Japanese government, on that un-
derstanding, is happy to be able to in
form the American government that 1T
is their intention gladly to accept an
invitation for a conference which shall
embrace the discussion of the Pacific
and far eastern questions.
The Common Understanding.
1.-THE japanese government has been
made aware through the communica-
tions and published statements Of the
American government and the conver-
satious between the secretary of state
and Baron Shidehara that the propo-
sition of the American government to
discuss the Pacific and Far Eastern
problems is based on the close bearing
they have on the limitation of arma-
ments, which is the principal aim of
the conference, and that, therefore,
the main object of discussing these
problems is to reach a common under
standing in regard to general princi-
pies and policies in the Pacific and the
Far East. Desiring, as they do. to ;
contribute to the establishment of an
enduring peace and to the advancement