South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-02-11
u. S. DELEGATES
SUBMIT REPORT
OF PROCEDURE
Declare New international
State of Mind Exists
Since Conference.
Continued from page one)


way was embodied in the first arti-
Gle of the general nine-pOwer treaty
regarding China. In order. however.
TO bring the rules set out i'm that
article out Of the realm of mere alb
stract propositions and make them
practical rules OF conduct II was
necessary TO provide for applying
them so far as the present condi-
tions of government and social or
der in China permit. This was done
by the remaining provisions Of the
general nine-power treaty and Chi
nese customs treaty and the series
of formal resolutions adopted by the
conference in its plenary sessions
and the formal declarations made a
part OF the record of the confer
ence.
The sum total of the action taken
in the conference regarding China
justify the relation Of confidence and
good will expressed in tho fOur-pow-
or treaty and upon which the re-
duction of ornaments provided in
the naval treaty may be contemplat-
ed with a sense of security"
At the beginning Of the report the
delegation recounts the diplomatic
steps leading up To the conference,
quotes from the presidents opening
address, and sets forth the manner in
which the conference was organized.
1t says this regarding publicity:
Keep Complete Record.
while the sessions of the COM
mittees were not public. a complete
4
ings and at the close of each session
of the committees on armament and
on the Pacific and far eastern ques-
tions respectively, a communique
was made to the press. which gem
orally stated all that had taken place
in the committee and in all cases,
set forth whatever matters of inn
portance had received attention.
Thus full publicity was given to the
proceedings of the conference"
Excerpts from the report As il
touched on specific subjects under
negotiation, follow:
Limitation of Land Armament
1T was recognized at the outset
that it would be difficult. if not inn
possible, to provide at this confer
ence for the limitation of land forces.
SO far as the army of the United
States is concerned, there was no
question presented. The British EN-.
pire has also reduced its land forces
10 a minimum. The situation on the
continent was wildly depicted i'm an
eloquent address by NJ. BRAND"
(Here follow quotations from the
address, of Premier BRAND, setting
forth Frances reluctance TO reduce
her army. and from addl esses Of
Sen. Schanzer for Italy and Baron
Kato for JapanD
Further consideration made is
quite clear that no agreement for the
limitation of land forces could be
had at this time"
Limitation of Naval Armament.
1T was obvious that no agreement
for limitation was possible if the pow
ers were not content TO take as
basis their actual existing naval
strength It was impossible TO termi-
nate competition i'm naval armament
if the powers were to condition their
agreement upon the advantages they
hoped 10 gain in the competitor itself.
Accordingly, when the argument
was presented by Japan that a better
ratio, that is, one more favorable 10
Japan than that assigned by the
American plan, should be adopted
and emphasis was placed upon the
asserted needs of Japan, the answer
was made that if Japan was entitled
to a better ratio upon the basis Of
actual existing naval strength. il
should he but otherwise could not be
accepted.
Before asserting TO this ratio
(f1ve-five-three) the Japanese gov
eminent desired assurances with re-
gard to the increase of fortifications
and naval bases I'm the Pacific ocean.
Il was insisted that while the capital
ship ratio proposed by the American
government might be acceptable un-
der existing conditions. it could not
be regarded as acceptable by the
Japanese government if the govern
ment of the United States should
fortify or establish additional naval
bases in the Pacific ocean. After pro-
longed negotiations, the three pow
ers. the United States the British
empire and Japan, made an agree
ment that the status quo would be
maintained.
Scrap Jap Ships.
Among the ships which the
American government proposed
should be strapped by Japan was the
Mutsu. 1t was the understanding Of
the American government that this
ship was still incomplete at the time
of the meeting OF the conference.
The Japanese delegation, however.
insisted that the Mutsu had actually
been finished. was commissioned and
fully manned. before the conference
met. tThe report then sets forth the
terms of agreement by which the
Mutsu was retained
In view Of the insistence on the
part Of the French delegation that
they could not abate their require
ments as 10 auxiliary craft and sub
marines. the British delegation stat
ed that they were unable to consent
to a limitation of auxiliary crafts
adapted 10 meet submarines. For
this reason it was found TO be i'm
possible 10 carry out the American
plan so far as Limitation OF auxiliary
craft and submarines was concerned.
with respect 20 capital ships.
while there are certain changes in
detail. the integrity Of the plan pro
posed on behalf Of the American
government has been maintained
and the spirit in which that proposal
was made, and in which it was re-
ceived. dominated the entire nego-
tiations and brought them 70 sue
cessful conclusion.
saving Of Money.
1T Is obvious that this agreement
means ultimately an enormous saw