New Britain herald., 1922-01-02
Both Nations Deny Allega-
tion That They Planned
To Secure Siberian Pro-
tectorate For Nippon
Meanwhile the Washington
Conference Prepares to
Finish Up Naval Work by
Latter Part of Week.

Washington, Jan. 2.-(By Associat-
ed Press. NAVAL experts of the arms
conference kept at work today on
their tasks of ironing out details of
the naval limitation plan which 1t is
hoped to put into final treaty form
by the end Of the week. With no SER
ious difficulty expected in formulating
the necessary adjustments to cover
such questions as replacement and
scrapping of ships, there was feel
ing today that the end of the week
might see an announcement from the
plenary session of these con-
ferences of a formal five power treaty
covering the naval limitation scheme.
Far Eastern Problems
With this prospect for final dispo-
sition of the naval program, there was
q general expectation among the dele
cations today that next week set
tlement covering the far eastern field
would be effected, permitting the con-
ference to adjourn about the middle
of the month. Despite the several
troublesome issues which apparently
have yet to be cleared away in that
branch OF the negotiations including
the Shantung question upon which
the Japanese and Chinese are now
deadocked, it was believed that set
tlement would not be delayed beyond
two weeks Most of the foreign dele
gates have made definite arrange
ments for their departure at the end
of that time.
Alleged Copies Published
t.. CT n
questions, the Siberian situation had
been brought suddenly into promin-
ence today through publication by
the special delegation here from the
Far Eastern republic Of copies of al
legged communications between the
Japanese and French governments,
covering the proposal that the two
govcrnn1eht ehts act in concert at the
Washington conference with respect
to the establishment of a Japanese
protectorate over Siberia.
"Forgerics.' Is Claim
Although the documents were
promptly declared by a member of
the japanese delegation to be a ma
licious fabrication and characterized
by a French delegate as "forgeries,
stupidity contrived" there was consid-
cradle speculation today whether the
accusation would be brought formally
before the conference by the Chinese
or some other delegation when the
Siberian situation is taken up on the
agenda. The Far Eastern representa-
tives them selves not only are men,
bers of the conference but are speak
ing for an unrecognized government |
which left it entirely uncertain as to
what cognizance may be taken Of the
charges.
France Displeased
Paris, Jan g - Members of the
French delegation should have lost no
time in giving their views of the AM
erican plan for limitation of naval
armaments, it was declared by news
papers here today. "PertinaX' poll
tical editor of the Echo de Paris, re-
sented with Indignation, charges of
Imperialism and militarism against
France and referred bitterly to the
conduct of England.
"Obviously the American program
implied" he declared that all navies
should be of the same type and that
the same ratio fixed for capital ships
should apply to small units and sub
marines Without waiting, we should
have asserted our right to navy
built to other conceptions. We post
poned such action, contenting our
selves to answering present questions
and taking every opportunity to flat
ter our trans Atlantic friends who
were accepting everything given them
at it's face value. They were after
wards nstonished to find how our
ideas were full of tucks and folds.
Our leaders made the same mistake
in 1919 in dealing with President Will
son and were similarly accused of
dupllcity."
st. Price, writing in the Journal,
was more bitter in his comment. J
England won a magnificent game
he asserted, "and has succeeded in
realizing a European hegemony such
as no no ton ever has known and has
thrown on France the suspicion of