Evening star., 1921-09-28
TOXIC TO CONCEDE:,
COUNSELOR SAYS
Frederick Moore Thinks ia.
pan Willing to Make "Sur-
prising Concessions"

Discussing Japan at the forthcom-
ing armament conference, Frederick
Moore. foreign counselor to the Jap
anese ministry of foreign affairs, in
the current issue of the Forum, writ
ing as an American citizen and not
as a Japanese official, says some
things which he confesses might be
considered undiplomatic for repre-
sentative of a government to say.
THE success of the conference"
| writes Mr.. Moore. Ought to be as
sured. All of the other powers that
will participate would probably go
F, further than the United States in
making concessions to reach an un-
derstapding. If we would become a
powers would undoubtedly enter into
complete alliance with u.s. AS much
as that, however, cannot be expected
| from the conference. alliances being
contrary to the traditional policy of
| this country.
Hopeful OF Results.
! What measure of success can be
achieved? That is the question. Per-
| sonally. am very hopeful, and / am
| glad to be able to say that the Japan
csc government is likewise reassured
| and confident. 1t was natural for
! the Japanese, when the informal in
vitation was first presented to them
by the American embassy in Toxic.
to be anxious to know exactly what
the intentions of the new American
administration were.
When conference for the
limitation of armament was first sug-
gested a sensation of relief was felt
| in Japan, as in Great Britain; but
when the American government at
| tached to it's original informal
invitation what appeared to be con-
dition that the Limitation should be
subject to agreements on Pacific and
far eastern problems an excited fear
developed in Japan that the longed-
for relief might not, after all. be
forthcoming.
Many Papers Suspicious.
Many of the Japanese papers
thought an equitable consideration
of their position might not be OBJ
tainable at the conference. They
| know that it is to the interest of
| certain nations and certain people to
keep hostility alive between them
! selves and this country. and they
! realize thai, here in America much
of the press might be what can be
described as primed against them
Mr.. Moore said the Japanese.
! believing in the propriety of their
general position, has decided to
come to Washington, present their
ana TedCn tne measure
| of agreement possible anu show a
Willingness to make surprising con-
Cessions to the American point of
view in order to terminate if possible
the present costly and menacing
criticism and suspicion that go on
! in both countries"
| "The idea prevails in some quar-
| ters," Mr.. Moore continues. that if
no agreement is reached at the con-
| ference serious commercial and naval
| competition will result: but this, ii
/ seems to me, is unwarranted. There
| is no doubt that an agreement can
/ be reached by the three naval pow
| ers if the United States does not
| make our approval of naval reduc-
| ton contingent upon collateral mill
| tary reductions in Europe. A
| naval agreement would be ratified in
! both Japan and Great Britain. includ-
| ing the colonies. But even If it should
fail to receive the two-thirds vote in
the United States Senate, the con-
| ference promises to have valuable
| international results in clearing the
, atmosphere
/, Hopes sErrors- VIII BE Avoided.
THE present American admin istra-
tion will undoubtedly avoid the errors
made by President Wilson's delega-
ton at Paris.
"If the American government will
make serious effort to prevent q repe-
|
fair presentation of the cases of these
two nations to the American public
by substantial measure of open
dip1omacy-as they undoubtedly will
the result cannot fail to be a broad
enlightenment and a dissipation OF
much of the prevailing hostility and
suspicion"
The world war left but three pow.
ers upon the seas-one in Europe, one
in Asia and one in the Americas, Mr.
interests of none of these powers
really conflict"
THE United States is in a position
and has the opportunity practically
to dictate the terms. even if those
terms are not entirely equitable" he
concludes. What is most needed OF
our part is wisdom and ordinary
courtesy. If we provide these-and
we ought to be able to-the success
full outcome of the conference is as.