South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-12-04
NAVAL ISSUE
now SQUARELY
UP TO TOXIC
Definite Action, However, Is
Not Anticipated Before
Several DAYS.

'NoHltLaHA ll"iH Fte' u4Nl
20 wait for eeveral days while the
japanese delegates Zee. out the atd-
tude or their home government
toward the newest phase ~ the ne
gotiations az a. shapes up from last
night's conference between the
heads o. the American. British and
japanese delegations.
In the meantime what actually oc-
CURED at the meeting OF the big
Three is a closely guarded secret
All authoritative sposesmen refusing
70 take notice OF the resulting crop
OF guesses coujeotlure8 and sur-
rnises as 20 what alliances" ''un-
ceraandings or "compromises'
might be IN contemplation.
In the Tar eastern negotiations, on
the other hand. the developments
centering about the Chinese leases
were ~ 30 pronounced a character
az 10 be regarded generally as rank
ing among the most important OF
the whole conference. The British
japanese and French IN turn ex-
pressed their willingness TO give up
certain Of their holdings IN China
and. although definite undertakings
are yet % De formulated. the move
was accepted by the friends Of China
az promising a substantial modid-
cation OF tho principle Of spheres
OF Influence"
Harp on Shantung.
The much discussed Shantung
lease was among those japanese Of
fered 10 abandon as soon as China
makes satisfactory political arrange
zTents but at tho same time the con-
ference was reminded that the
whole Shantung problem was under
consideration fin direct negotiations
here between China and Japan. A
willingness 10 discuss the south Man
churian lease also was evidenced by
the Japanese. although they insisted
that JaDan's treaty rights in that
section must be preserved 90 her
Tonight the conference and all its
subdivisions. after three weeks OF
continuous work, went into recess
until next Wednesday. Many Of the
delegates. II was said. had import
ant personal affairs pressing for at
tentIon and most OF them wanted to
be present Monday and Tuesday for
the opening Of the new session OF
congress. The interim also viii per
nit the Japanese 20 advise them-
selves fully as to the attitude OF To-
kio.
In all the major delegations con-
Adence apparently was increasing
tonight that the response from To-
lI.o would be favorable and that a
more definite basis Of negotiation
would develop soon after the re-
assembling Of the delegates next
week or growing prominence
among the side issues OF the naval
problem IS the AnglO-Japanese ALI
arce That Is a subject which the
British. Japanese and Americans all
refer 70 ruardedly, but there have
been many hints that both Great
Britain and Japan would prefer 20
have the United States a party 20
any continuance OF the treaty, or
even would be willing TO make
new agreement by which the three
would unite to preserve peace in the
gar east
Crux Of Question.
The cruX NJ the whole question
lies in the fact that the American
delegation Is totally opposed 10 en-
tering any such arrangement If Il
is TO be regarded as in any sense an
AHA &c. and that Japan on the
otheg hand. is reluctant 20 substi-
tute for the Anglo-Japanes treaty
any agreement whose terms would
seem 70 leave her I'm q weaker situa-
zion than before. a system OF ar
filtration treaties has been suggested
but There is no authoritative infor-
nation a. 90 how nearly satisfactory
that solution mtEht be TO either the
United States OF Japan.
II IS taken FOR granted that
should a regional agreement or set
OF cross treaties grow out Of the ne
eotlations France would be Included
because Of her large interests IN the
far east
All Of these considerations are re-
gar6ed by japanese as integral parts
or her problem OF national security
and I'm consequence Il is considered
posi- le that when a final agreement
as TO naval ratio IS reached there
VIII be bound up with Il a decision
as to some OF the most important
political questions OF the Pacific md
the orient