The New York herald., 1921-07-13
BRITISH HEAR JAPAN
WILL PARTlCIPAT
TOkiO's Formal Answer Re-
ported by Diplomatic Chan
nels to Be on Way.
MAY CONSULT DOMINIONS
Question of Reduced Land
Forces Hardly Applicable to
Position of France.
MAY CONSULT DOMINIONS

Copyright, IsaI by THE NEW YonK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
London, july IL.
Notwithstanding the general satis-
faction that President Harding has
are already two distinct schools OF
thought here. One insists that the
conference should be inaugurated at
the earliest possible moment. with ex-
perts sitting at Washington to do the
spade work. the responsible heads of
States. like President Harding himself,
Premier Lloyd George and Premier
BRAND. meeting later TO confirm the
defnitive action taken. The other
opinion says that this spade work
should be done in the ordinary course
of diplomatic correspondence, and as
soon as an agreement on the basis laid
by the experts is in sight the heads Of
States should gather to clinch the
agreement.
The former opinion seems to en-
visage the attainment Of the main OBJ
than at Washington. But it should
be emphasized in the strongest man
ner possible that both opinions are
influenced by the sole desire TO make
the conference a success.
In view of the known desire o: both
Premiers Lloyd George and BRAND to
go 10 America personally the odds are
in favor OF the plan OF preparing the
ground by correspondence and producing
an agenda upon which the heads OF
states can readily reach an agreement
once thev meet at the council table at
Washington.
The single doubtful element in the
situation was cleared up tonight. when
It was reported through diplomatic
channels that Toxic formal acceptance
OF the invitation is on the way There
has been little doubt of that here In
best Informed circles. because Viscount
Hayaehl the Japanese Ambassador to
Great Britain. made a confidential state
ment to Lord Curzon last week which
made the japanese acceptance certain.
Dominions' views to Prevail.
Those who favor gathering of ex-
DcTts tlrEt lnCiuut III liit piOb
tnat representatives of the British Do
minions should insist upon attending
the preliminary conference. on the
other hand. 1t is said, that. whether or
not the Dominions are formally repre-
sented at the ultimate meeting. which
will make the final decision. the British
representatives. there In view of the
present imperial conference. certainly
will not violate Dominion ideas.
The inclusion OF France and Italy In
the invitation is generally hailed here
rs an extremely wise step. Great Brit
ain has already taken the lead IN land
disarmament by reducing her standing
army 70 pre-war status and Is ready for
a further reduction in money spent for
this purpose as such imperial and world
"a sks as Ireland. India and Mesopotania
will permit The editorials OF the lead
ing newspapers also show that the bulk
of British opinion favors a reduction OF
the naval programme at the earliest
moment it Is possible to make IL with
out ieopardizng British interests on the
sea which are necessary to protect do
minion communications AS soon as
there is nothing against which protec-
tion of these communications Is needed
Great Britain will acquiesce IN at:y pro-
gramme which viii prove reasonable.
Great Britain has n sound apprccia-
tion Of what hard cash means, with the
income tax running as high as sixteen
shillings in the pound On the other
hand, there Is a very ready sympathy
with that French position which sees
the necessity OF large standing army
"a long as Germany and Russia are un-
stable elements in the European situa-
ton.