Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-19
Great Naval Conference

Mr. Wakatsuki, former prime minister.
The chief French delegate Is Andre
Tardieu. Foreign Minister Dino Grandi
will represent Italy.
The American delegation is headed by
Henry l.. Stimson, Secretary of State,
supported by Charles Francis Adams,
Secretary of the Navy; Dwight w. Nor
row. Minister to Mexico: Gen. Dawes,
Ambassador to the Court of st. James;
Hugh Gibson. Ambassador to Belgium;
Senators David Reed and Robinson and
the naval experts.
If this conference had to solve prob
lens involving only Great Britain. ia
pan and the United States 1t would
reach an agreement in a comparatively
short time. Unfortunately, it is not
easy Of solution because the particular
problems of France and italy impinge
themselves in the most positive way. It
seems reasonable to expect that Britain,
japan and America can reach an early
agreement. In fact, there is nothing
standing in the way of the United
States making an agreement with any
power. The last few years have brought
about a profound difference in the re-
lations between Japan and this country.
New Atmosphere Created.
Aside from the economic changes
which have taken place in Japan, a
wholly new atmosphere has been Great
ed. The tension which. rightly or
wrongly, existed here has been les
sened while, on the other hand the
Japanese people have adopted a more
friendly attitude to the United States.
So far as Japan and America are con-
cerned the conference opens under most
favorable conditions.
Great Britain's attitude Is almost too
uell kpOu,1 IN Yaad av1lo Y1ofi0n Nirh-
olas Roosevelt's book, America and
England which makes its appearance
on the very eve Of the conference, brings
out Strikingly the various points at
which the two countries are in COMPETE
ton. Mr.. Roosevelt stresses the differ
ences, but nothing he has to<say con-
vinces us that it will be impossible for
America and England to come to an
agreement which will limit naval build
ing. The more difficult the problem,
the more points at which the two coun-
tries are in competition. the more rea-
son there will be to applaud the prog
reSs that is made. Looking back at the
preliminaries to the Washington con-
ference in 1922 one cannot but marvel
at the change which has taken place in
the relations among England, Japan
and America.
If there were no Mediterranean Sea,
would be no doubts regarding the sue
cess OF the conference. Neither Japan
nor the United States is keenly inter-
ested in the Meditrranean, but the
three other parties are, especially France
and Italy. England happens to be pro-
foundry interested in the Mediterranean
as well as the Atlantic and Pacific
Oceans. The English Channel, which
the British Admiralty succeeded in de-
tacks fairly successfully during the last
years OF the war, does not worry the
British government and its naval advis-
ors half so much as the problem of
keeping the Mediterranean route to
India and Australia open. France and
Italy consider that they too have big
problems in the Mediterranean. This
conference Is almost certain to last for
many weeks and In the final analysis it
will probabl be the Mediterranean
rather than the caliber of guns or the
tonnage of cruisers that will test the
patience and the ingenuity of the
delegates.
Patience will Be Factor.
When it comes to patience Foreign
Minister Henderson, affectionateiy
known as Uncle Arthur" will be a
prime factor. In his time he has played
IHdIly IOicS--LeLIlpcIdIlCC lSCCuESI, uOIl-
worker, political boss, cabinet minister
in a coalition government, special rep
resentative to Russia, but more impor-
tant than all these a delegate to in
Vulnerable international labor confer
ences in which the only hope of success
was the ability to discuss the problems
patiently and finally compose the diverg-
| ent views. Premier Macdonald is even
more adept at this tremendously i'm
IL L.. g.. -. I.
| ing, but In British labor circles Uncle
Arthur" is regarded as master.
| There can be no more patient delegate
than Mr.. Wakatsuki, who will support
Premier Mamaguchi OF all the vet
Grams the one most familiar with inter-
national gatherings is M. BRAND. who
enters this conference with a new chief
M Tardieu His silvery tongue, hi
graceful gesture, his profound knowl'