The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-11-27
NAVAL LIMITATION
AGAIN TOBECOME
BIG QUESTION
American and English Experts
Have Completed Their
Study of the Hughes
Reduction Plan
By Associated Press

BY Associated Press
Washington, November 26.-Tht
problem of naval limitations left il
the background while the Far East
ern negotiations are developing ster
by step the policies Of the powers
toward China, has been advanced tx
point where it may soon resume {
place of predominating interest il
the arms conference.
1t was indicated today that botr
the American and British experts had
virtually completed. their work OF
details of the American reduction
plan, and would be ready to report
to the conference early next week
The Japanese expertsinad no similar
announcement to make, but 1t was as
sumed they would not permit them
selves to be put In the position OF
delaying seriously the progress of the
negotiations.
The crucial point in the discus
sfons, as Viewed by the Ameri-
can delegation mt least, fs the
.'5-5-3 ratio OF capital ship
strength which forms the basis of
the American plan, and it In
upon this feature TINT the consid-
erntions OF the conference are ex-
pected to center when ii teurns
again to the naval question. 1t
was said authoritntively today
that In the opinion of the spokes-
men of the American government
all questions relating to auxiliary
craft are of collateral importance
only and can be settled easily
once there is nm agreement on
capital ships.
Conference officials are under
stood to feel that the attention of the
delegates can be diverted from the
far eastern problems to the subject
Of naval armament without compli-
eating the procedure of the confer
ence and the American delegation in
particular has shown a desire to get
back into the naval discussions as
soon as the work of the experts will
permit. The American delegates are
declared to be we'll satisfied with the
progress made in the far eastern me-
gotiations but impatient to get the
naval negotiations out of committee
for more definite exchange of views
among those who will actually have
the final decision.
Agreement In Principle
Another of China's problems
reached the point of a virtual agree
ment in principle" during the day at
a session of the committee of the
whole devoted to a discussion of the
maintenance of foreign postoffices
and the postal systems on Chinese
soil The delegates all agreed there
should be a Withdrawal of the for
eign postal machinery as soon as
conditions warrant and a subcommit-
tee headed by Senator Lodge of the
American delegation drew up for
later formal adoption declaration
OF principle under which each of the
powers would investigate conditions
for itself and withdraw when 1t con-
sidered 1t practical to do so.
The report Is to be presented to the
full committee Monday and at the
same time another subcommittee will
present for approval a resolution de-
claring also for a gradual abolition
OF the extra-territorial rights in
China as soon as China's judicial
machinery Will warrant the change.
1t is expected that the dispatch OF
an international commission of jurists
to China to study the situation will
be recommended in the subcommittee
report and agreed to by the confer
ence.
Postal Question
In the discussion of the postal
question today. the delegates OF
Japan are understood to have ex-
pressed serious doubt whether the
present postal facilities of the Chinese
would fully meet the demands
made upon them should the
foreign systems withdraw. 1t was
also said to have been suggested by
some delegates that the Peking gov
eminent might find difficulty in en-
forcing reforms which might be
agreed to here, in view of the un-
settled state of the internal affairs
of China. The virtual decision to
leave withdrawal with the discretion
of each individual power was the re-
suit
Although no formal mention of
1t wns made In the committee
meeting, President Harding's
suggestion for q continuance of
the conference plan in fnterna-
tional relationships was n ques-
tion of absorbing interest in pri-
/ vate conversations between dele
gates.
Few of the delegates would COM
ment on 1t publicity, and the only hint
as to the possible attitude of the 9TH
err nations came from Viviani, head
of the French delegation. who In
dorsed the suggestion. saying 1t was
not only "a high thought" but a
practical one, and from a British
spokesman, who declared that an "as-
ISOLATION of nations" must be APP
preached carefully until the attitude
of the American Congress had been
expressed.
Depends ON Congress
Great Britain said this spokes-
man. lis most anxious to participate
in any movement that would tend to
the peace of the world. but obviously
the Presidents suggestion is more or
less an American domestic question
on which it would not be proper for
the delegates to express an opinion
until the details have been worked
out and the Congress of the United
States has decided on some definite
scheme that would have the full APP
prevail Of the American people"
Developments during the day
served to strengthen the possibility,
however. that the plan for future
conferences might become a subject
Of formal consideration before the