Evening journal., 1921-12-01

WASHINGTON. Dec. /. (United
Press)-W1th the fate Of the Hughes
naval program taken out OF the
realm OF arithmetic the Big Three
statesmen had the question OF a de-
cision before them tooay.
They will be guided by the ruies
Of a cross s-the-table talk without the
public present and the predictions
were that before the next plenary
session. they will have threshed OUT
a satisfactory solution.
America stands for pairing japan
navy TO sixty per cent. OF Britain
or our own. The japanese stin are
for a 10 per cent. navy saying ma
tional security demands IT," To care
ful observers this insistence on a
larger navy upon this basis means
Japan has some cards up her sleeve
namely she wants to bargain In.
! bargain now sought Is removal OF
American Pacific fortihcations whlch
she believes make for an insecurity
OF her shores. Some thought the
coincidence OF the private Shantuns
settlement and the delicate situa-
ton in the naval armament question
may be significant. In other words
she has points TO insist upon in th'
shantung question that she could
hest accomplish her ends by usinl
the naval ratio problem AZ a club.
In an event. the japanese sa'
they arc looking for a political set
tlement." Some OF their spokes
men still minimize the prospects o
a real split.
A delegation source reiterated 70
day his prediction to the Unite
Press that both the naval and Fa
Eastern questions would be settle
before Christmas
In many quarters. II was felt tina
the navy solution rests largely wit
the party able TO hold out longest.
That means America will prevail
for she has no reason TO relent o
her stand.
Great Britain Is backing Americi
The conference will be a success
said one Britisher because we will I
: Japan. he added. will do what "
demand OF her" This perhaps
not the whole story but the Japanes
arc in no position economically
enter a ship building race wit
America at this time.
Moreover. by holding out no.
Japan would be in a position late
to take credit for magnanimity whe
she backs down and meets IN
American. II is contended.
Settlement may involve comprc
misses. But the indications ar
b America will not alter her positio
to any radical extent. Japan. sa
= the authorities. must back down.
French naval experts today evolV
cd p plan which would avoid IN
] inclusion OF France in the nav
81 -afio program.
p For several reasons France doe
7 not wish to play a 20" to "5-5-
( ratio OF the three big naval power
J She feels that since her navy {
81 present Is below the sweeping CT
y in armaments proposed for nav
powers. Limitation OF her futui
{ navy would be an infringemei
- upon her sovereignty.
I France, however. is anxious
S conform TO the sentiment Of u
r present conference. She does n
wish 10 appear in the light OF stan
ing aside from a general aEreeme
es TO navies. Most OF all she does n
10 wish and cannot afford 10 build
. the present time. II is unlikely tn
- any French program even an unr
stricted one, would include q
building OF a single hrst-class capt.
ship.
To reconcile these two attitude
u French naval experts, under A
miral Debon have worked out the
: plan. which will be presented to q
a conference.
= France. asking TO be left out Of q
vi ratio scheme. will present her bull
ing program for the next ten year
She will guarantee not TO exceed
This French program. which n
been carefully gone over by her G
- ports. will they said be so reaso
able as to be acceptable to all 4
powers. II will. in effect. be a pr.
gram such as would be proposed
France were included in the nav
ratio.
France viii seek to avoid beil
limited. at the saSie time proposii
program well within any theo
etical limitation.