New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-15
Reply to Invitation to
Conference Brings Up
Point of Keeping Far
East Out of Discussion
Officials Feel They
Can Satisfy Toxic
State Department, Sure
Farley Will Come, Is
Making Its Preparations

WASHINGTON, July Ia (By The As
sociated Press ).-Japan is ready to
enter the disarmament conference, but
withho]ds assent to an unrestricted
discussion Of the Far Eastern ques-
tions as part Of it.
The viewpoint of the American gov
ernment is that solution of the Far
Eastern questions is a necessary ac-
compartment to any disarmament pro-
gram.
Thus develops the first hitch-if a
hitch it turns out to be-in President
Harding's plan to remove the causes
for heavy armaments and then reduce
the armamcnts themselves.
American officials, however, are op-
timistic that a way will be found for
a satisfactory conference to which
Japan will be party and for a pro-
gram Of ornaments reduction accept
able to all.
The Japanese reply to the prelimi-
nary question of whether she would
receive an invitation to such a confer
ence came to the State Department to-
day through the American Embassy at
Toxic. Its text was not made public
and department officials declined to re-
veal its contents except to say that it
expressed approval of the disarmament
discussion, but did not agree to a con-
sideration of Pacific problems. During
the day, however, it became known that
the attitude of the Japanese govern
ment was known to the government
here.
Regarded as Assured
This attitude is that the disarma-
ment question is a vast one in itself,
and that if other questions are intro
duced into the discussion the confer
ence may be so broadened as to en-
danger its success. Japanese officials
are said to feel this to be particularly
true if the questions so introduced are
to affect the delicate balance of dip
lomatic relations in the Orient. There is
debate might open up Pandora's box
of troublesome diplomatic intricacies
which would set for Mr.. Harding's con.
! ference task of readjustment even
greater than that attempted by the
peace conference Of Versailles.
The alternative, in the belief of Japa.
nese statesmen, would be to agree be-
forehand on exactly what question.
will form the subject matter of the dis.
cussions.
To this is opposed the opinion of
American officials that if ali the ma
tions first agreed to come into the con-
ference whatever limitations appeared
advisable could be fixed by general as
sent afterward
Just what will be the next step of
the President and his advisers did not
appear tonight. China having accept
ed the invitation Internationally dur
ing the day, however, all of the invited
powers were on record as agreeing at
least to discuss disarmament, and it
was the apparent purpose of the State
Department to regard the assembling
Of the meeting as assured, and to pro-
ceed in due course to issue notes of in
vltatlon in more formal character.
Two Courses Open
Two courses are open in attempting
to bring Japan into full participation
Inc State Department again may pre-
sent the case to her informally and
ask that she consider once more the
| return of an unqualified acceptance
On the other hand, this government
may go forward with it's plan of send.
ing out formal invitations, in the hope
that the officials at Toxic will decide
they can obtain a satisfactory delimita.
ton of the discussions after the
delegates have assembled.
1t is not impossible that the course
adopted will include elements of both
of these plans of procedure. There is
a feeling here than Japan scarcely will
decide in the end to stand out by her.
self among the powers when confront
ed with the actual choice of accepting
or declining a formal invitation. Re
gardless Of whether this formal step is
delayed, it is certain that pressure will
be continued through informal agencies
to bring the Toxic officials around tc
| the American viewpoint.
| 1t also is manifest that high officials
here are thoroughly confident they will
succeed in constructing basis of ne.
gotiation that Japan can accept. They
realize that in proposing a conference
of SO broad scope they are going be.
yond the usual methods of diplomacy
but they are impelled by belief that
the unusual character of the conference
itself warrants their course. They
would be very oath to hem the discus.
J Continued on next pase)