The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-30
FINAL AGREEMENT ON 5-POWER NAVY
 TREATY IS NEARER
Moves Also Developing Which Seem to Insure Early De- cision on Entire Shan
 tung Controversy
By Associated Press

Washington, January 29.-Further instructions from Tokio to the Jap aness delegation brought a final agreement on the five power naval treaty one step nearer today, while stnovss were developing that seemed to insure a final decision in the shan tung controversy within a few days.
 The exact nature of the Tokio communication was not disclosed, but it was understood to accept with one or tive reservations. the language of the Qualifications article which is the only portion of the naval treaty re- nnaining incomplete. The Japan government is said to approve defi- nitsly the plan for listing by name the Pacific islands which are net to be further fortified. but the reply is in such form that some further disoussien will ks necessary
 In the shantung negotiations there appeared no outward change in the situation, although there was evil dencs that increasing pressure was being brought to bsar for settle ment. The prediction heard almost everywhere in conference circles was that a day or two more would tell the story, with the odds favortnS acceptance of the settlement plan supported by President Harding.
 :. Another Factor Overcome
 Another factor of delay to the pro- gress of the conference was partially overcome when the Italians received
 
 the proposal to prohibit importation of arms and ammunition into China The Netherlands delegation also Is waiting for word from home on the subject but it was said tonight that the decision of The Hague govern ment was not expected to be long delayed.
 By some of the delegates 1t was . predicted that both the naval ana Far Eastern committees might meet tomorrow, the former to discuss the Qualifications article and the latter to take action on the arms export res olution. It also Is possible that the Japanese and Chinese may come to- eether before tomorrow night to at- tempt to clear away the last re- maining disagreements over Shaun tung.
 VIII Ask Reservations
 In disclosing tonight that Italy had approved the China arms resoiu- tion, Italian spokesmen tntimated they would be obliged to ask for the same reservations made, under the arms agreement of Peking to pre- vent the resolution from being con- strued as retroactive.
 As the various branches of the con ference simultaneously approach conclusions, the> drafting experts are working overtime to put the accom- nfishments of committees and sub committees into treaty form. ihe peak of their load Is expected to come during this week and 1t Is not im possible that the situation may work to delay the date of final adjourn ment.
 Two Virtually Complete
 Two of the conference treaties, the our-power Pacific convention anu tha fiye-power naval pact, are vir- tually complete. The Japanese ana Chinese experts are at work in pro- nosed Shantung treaty, most of which ren,atns to be written, and at the sane time the Tap treaty between the limited States and Japan, IS nearins oonnletion. Much remains to be done on inc six-power agreement to allo cate the former German cables III the Pacific, while particularly oii- fioult situation has developed in the framing of the nine-power far eastern agreement. ,....,ors In their far eastern deliberations the delegates have adopted l7 res. oIutions relating to China, ana al. least two more. relating to arms im- portation and to the Chinese Easeern raitxvay. are in prospect. Some oi these are in the nature of important pledges between all the nine gov. ernments represented, others are Ia rreements to which the Chinese gov arnment is not a party and still oth-' ere are merely expressions of opinion on ,pe part of the outside powers towers Is ,n to what should be China's course III tD. s,,tnre. whether all of these can be put into one treaty still Is un- csrtain. and although the draftins ,n tsat sat nerts have been proceeding in tna. direction some of the delegates now think the final result will be rather a series of declarations not III treaty form.