New-York tribune., 1922-01-05
Japan, France and Italy to
Approve Root Proposals
and Balfour Restriction
on Use of Submarines
May Hold Plenary
Session Tomorrow
British Acclaim Results
of Meeting as Among
Chief Events of History
By Carter Field


WASHINGTON, Jan. 4.--Wth an un-
dcrstandlng on every big disputed ques-
tlon in sight, the armament Limitation
conference is about to become history
1T was announced TO day that the Shan
tung discussion would be completed to-
morrow and the answers of France
Italy and Japan on the submarine ques-
ton reported at meeting Of the
armament committee
Summing up the achievements Of the
conference, many of which individually
were declared to exceed in importance
the work Of any similar meeting, one
Of the British delegates asserted to-
night in the presence ofsseveral score
of newspaper men that it had been the
most successful international confer
cncc that has ever been held"
For the first time since the Shan
tung question was referred to Toxic
a meeting on that vexed question was
held to-day, at the initiative of the
Japanese. Following this meeting came
the cryptic announcement that the dis
cussion would be completed tomorrow.
Ready for Report on China
The Far Eastern committee at a
meeting tomorrow is to receive the
Intoxicating the Chinese tariff ques-
ton, by which the Chinese get an
actual increase of ! Il per cent in their
tariff and comni ssion appointed to
investigate with view to granting fur
ther increases. The committee is ex-
pected also to dispose of other Far
Eastern questions, which have been
held back by the failure of China and
Japan to get together on Shantung.
Drafting of the five-power naval
treaty virtually was completed during
the day. The questions Of policy to
be taken up at to-morrow's meeting
limitation for auxiliary warships and
the Root submarine proposals with
the Bafour amendment to make the
ban on the use of submarines against
merchant ships effective at once as
among the five powers.
France, it is understood, Is ready
to accept the limitation on size of
auxiliary warships.
Japan has received instructions to
accept the Root and Balfour submarine
proposals in principle, as has France,
the only question being open is that
of putting them into a form acceptable
to all. Italy is said to be ready to
accept any restriction of the sub
marine that the other nations agree
upon. Italy throughout the naval
negotiations has been fore reductions,
but always with the reservation that
she must be kept on level with
France.
Spokesman for both the American
and British delegations indicated their
belief that both the auxiliary craft and
submarine questions will be disposed
OF with little delay. In American cir
cles there was a hint that a plenary
session for not only the naval agree
ment but to report Far Eastern settle
mcnts may be held Friday or Saturday.
Putting Decisions Into Form
The conference is now, as it was ex-
pressed by one of it's leaders tonight,
in the "drafting stage" Decisions on
practically all questions have been
reached, but the detailed work Of re-
ducng the agreements to form or
language on which all can agree is not
abreast of the process of arriving at
conclusions.
There arc several questions which
arc upon the agenda, but which have
not been formally taken up, but there
have been so many conversations on
every conceivable point relating there
to since the conference opened that
there is not much talking left to be
done when the problems are formally
presented.
In view of all this, the thought of
the British delegation that this is the
most successful international confer
ence ever held. and the reasons for
that opinion, are Of interest.
Before the conference was called this
spokesman for the British Empire
pointed out that there existed state
Of naval rivalry between Britain, the
United States and Japan.
"If this had been permitted to go
on" he said, "it would have cost
Heaven only knows what, but more i'm
portant than that it could not have
CONTINUED on next pase)