Paragould soliphone., 1921-07-18


 to participate as of the most vital importance.
 Limitation of armaments, 1t is agreed, must be contingent upon ad- justment of the problems of the Pa cific and the Far East. If Japan is going to rebel against consideration of these issues there may be serious breakers ahead for the world states !men who are about to enter the Washington conference with high hopes of reducing the expensive ar maments of the world.
 The president and Secretary Hughes are known, however, to be confident that Japan eventually will agree to participate in the whole program. So confident are they that they are ignoring Japan's fail ure to respond to the second section of the American invitation and it was announced that the official call for the conference would be issued by the president in the near future, probably within two weeks. China, the last of the powers to be- heard from, replied favorably and unqualifiedly yesterday.
 The State Department made it clear, although not publishing the text of Japan's reply, that the re- sponse did not express any "unwill- ingness to participate in considera- tion of Eastern questions.
 Notwithstanding the optimism off the administration, the reply from Japan is regarded as significant in some quarters here. But even those who believe that Japan may insist upon stipulations or qualifications before agreeing to participate in the whole program outlined by the pres ident, do not think that she can long stand out against Great Britain, France, Italy and the United States. Great Britain with the Anglo-Jap- anese alliance hanging in the bal ance, has a formidable weapon of in- fluence over the Far Eastern nation.
 Reports have been received here unoIficially that the Japanese states menwish to have an understanding that there will be no immigration decision at the conference, which will be against the interests of Japan. Another obstacle to prompt acceptance by Japanese of the invi- tation to participate in discussion of the Eastern issues, is said to be the fact that China, although not one of the inter-aIlied group, has been invited to appear at the council table. Japan would prefer that is- sues such as Shantung and other questions involving China be con- sidered by the big powers only.
 Nothing has been done yet re- garding detailed plans for the con ference. Each nation is to be linn ited in the number of men who will actually take part in''the discussions,I but this number has not been fixed and probably will not be until the matter has been considered with the nations concerned. But tho motive1 will be to keep the number as small as possible; probably not more than four or five from each country.
 The American representation is a matter of considerable speculation. Secretary of State Hughes will, off course, head the delegation. Presi- dent Harding is expected to appoint representative of the Senate on the delegation. Senator Lodge, as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, would be logical choice. If Democratic senator it to be included it probably will be Sena- tor Hitchcock, ranking member of the Foreign Relations Committee. In the view of many observers here, former Secretary of State Elihu Root will also be asked to become q mem Der of the American delegation.