The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-11-17
DELEGATES SEEK
BASIS FOR WORK
ON THE FAR EAST
China's Proposals Taken Up
At Initial Meeting This
Morning for Individual
Policies of Nations.
JAPAN MAY ASCRIBE
TO THESE PROPOSALS
British Suggestions on Naval
Curtailment Complicated
to American Officers.
cBy The Associated Press

,By The Associated Pressl
WASHINGTON, Nov. l7.-Heads of
the delegations of the nine powers
participating in discussion of far east
ern questions at "a meeting today de-
cided to proceed first with the con
sideration Of problems relating to
China before entering upon other far
eastern questions. The other questions
il was decided viii De taken up in
the order listed By the tentative agen-
da suggested some time ago by Tn"
American government.
Preliminary reconnoitering gave way
to more direct negotiation today in
the endeavors Of the armament con
ference To find a solution for the
problems Of the far eas,.
Sitting as special committee ON
the far eastern situation the heads OF
the nine delegations went into con
ference to outline the respective poll
cies by which each will be guided and
To work out a plan Of procedure that
viii give each of these policies a
fair show.
/ The ten points presented yesterday
bv China with the general backing
Of the United states formed the basis
OF today's exchanges which were de-
signed TO develop step by step the
attitude Of the nine delegations. NJ
one expected this process to go vcrS
far at todays meeting, although thu
discussion of u program was consider
ed certain to draw out the opiniCn'
OF the powers as to the relative i'm
portance Of the topics before them.
Far East Not Technical
The opinion Of the American dclega
tion, which appeared TO have con
siderable support among the repre-
sentativcs Of the other powers wa
that the far eastern negotiations meet
not be complicated by the subj ommit
. tees to deal with especial subjects
The American delegates take the pc
sition that the far eastern question
, are not technical subjects requlrin
= he prolonged scrutiny of experts
They would bc glad To see the bi
nine. or the full conference go d
. rcctly to work without parceling gu
branches of the task to any more sui
I committees than are absolutely e.,
= sential.
p The several principles presented b
1 China for solution OF the far easter
4 problems afforded AT least a definit
Z. working basis for the Washinsto
}. conference as the delegates OF IN
= nine participating nations prepared
o meet again tod.y as a committee
{ work out plans Of procedure for col
sideration Of those problems. Know
tn have the moral support Of N
United States, these principles az lea
\ 80 far as they stand for actual pra
J ticc of the open door policy and I,
abolishment II spheres OF influ"nc,
in the far east. also are declared q
the highest authority to have q
support OF Great Britain.
Work on Chinese Proposal
r BY the same authority, II was 81
the conference would proceed to 60
sideraticn of far eastern questions
once on the basis of the propos
submitted by the Chinese delegation
the various principles set out In q
70 plan to be referred to experts vi
o will examine them and submit tn,
a reports to the full conference at Il
a earliest practical moment
p Japan would heartily subscribe
u many Of the points presented by Cht
Is 1t was stated boy spokesmen for b
IN delegations, but other points rails
doubtful questions which might
u. answered only after mature consid'
a alton. Chief among the latter they
=, carded the proposal that the rowe
conclude no treaties affecting chi
, without consulting her, the Japan'
', considering thar this might direct
~ affect the Anglolapanesr alliance.
was declared To be- the British vie
80 however. that the alliance was O
directly involved In the Chinese u
." pcsal. although II may later
- drawn into the discussions As dire
y, Is affecting their individual natioi
Va interests, the japanese also appear
's attach great Importance Io the D
'N posal that Nl existing commitmri
W. relating to China should be- "eNamir
'u with a view to the determining th
It, scone and validity The Chinese .
posal was lavorahy commented ur
by both the French ana Italian d'
cations as forming a suitable ba
=. FOR discussion ut the whole FAR cl
v crn question. although lacking I'll
" nitcness except as to principle.
The British suggestion that each
m the naval powers retain at least 4,
ng naval building yard capable oC tu
~ Ing out one Zip a year does not
m pear To- be- understood by Ancti,
ry naval officers particularly famil
er with construction problems. There y
w. no suggestion In the American III
tatlcn proposals that any yards
he ycrappcd and 10 far as navy yard
nd cilties In this country are concern
to all will be- needed, It is said. In
l. maintenance and repair OF the
tained fleet At present the Uni
states has several navy yards cqt
ped to build capital ships. 1t has
rsi been contemplated here that 4, w
be necessary under the reduction
gram to scrap the equipment OF IN
,ey shons and building documents.