Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-16
SIGNING Of PACT
MAY Be DELAYED
Drafting Committee Rushes
Work in Hope of Ending
Farley Tuesday.
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
LONDON, April l6.-With passing of
the hours it is becoming increasingly
uncertain whether the naval treaty
which is being evolved here will be
ready for signing next Tuesday. Unless
1t is signed then the American dele
cation will have to forego their reserva-
tons home aboard the Leviathan, which
cannot wait at Southampton much
beyond Wednesday noon.
The drafting committees today were
engaged in the last stages Of their work,
and they hoped to conclude the grind
tonight submitting the completed draft
TO the fve-power delegations tomorrow
for transmission to the home govern
ments. II quick approval were forth
coming in every case there would be
no reason why the conference finis
might not be written as per schedule.
The situation with reference to Japan
creates considerable doubt that this viii
be the csse, however If the Toxic
government should debate In typical
Oriental manner-as it did on the
terms OF the treaty a delay of some
length might intervene before approval
was given and the anal signing cere-
mony held.
Transmission Slow.
There is, too, the necessity Of trans
hitting the draft form to Toxic in
'Romaji." or anglicized Japanese, in
which the words are long and such
that each letter must be tapped out
separately instead of coding and con-
tracing as Is done with European
language messages. It was estimated
1t would take many hours to transmit
the $4,000 to $4,000 words of the treaty
to Toxic for consideration there.
1t is understood that the Japanese
also are cabling the treaty text piece
by piece to Japan as its is completed
in order to expedite the governments
approval of it
Translation and transmission to the
other capitals concerned is a compare
lively simple and easy task Reijiro
WakatSuki, head Of the Japanese dele
CATION to the conference, indicated he
would urge hurried consideration Of
the draft and a quick reply.
Japanese approval of the so-called
eScalator or safeguarding clause in the
treaty which will protect the three limi-
tation signatories against undue increase
in the navies of non-signatory nations,
specifically France and Italy, was be-
lieved today to be delayed also.
Three Powers Agree.
The Americans and British agreed
upon the form Of the clause in principle
yesterday and Mrs. Wakatsuki agreed
today.
Admiral Takarabe, minister of the
navy in the Japanese cabinet, will leave
here directly after the plenary session
for Toxic, by way of the Transsiberian
Railway. It was doubted he would reach
his home quickly enough to be present
at the special session Of the Diet. Mr..
Wakatsuki and other members Of the
Japanese delegation expect to take a
short trip to France and Italy after the
conference Is over, sailing from Mar
settle In the early part of May.
Prime Minister Macdonald left London
today in an airplane for his old home at
Loseiemouth, Scotland, where he will
spend the Easter holidays. The prime
minister did not leave, however, until
he had a last-minute conference with
Secretary Stimson and Mr.. Wakatsuki
Mr.. Macdonald said he would return
to London probably Monday.