The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-11-27
By RODNEY BUTCHER

O0R0n AE01AAOk I0NAA OOAAVA
 By RODNEY BUTCHER
 Washington, November 27 - Naval and diplomatic gossip here is that the naval conference about to be convened in London is a futile gesture and that nothing will come of it but excuses for Japan, England, and the United States to tell their taxpayers that the other nations will not compromise and that the only recourse is to enter the international naval race.
 Nevertheless, there is a distinct hope -- and it can be said with authority that 1t persists with the American delegation - that naval limitation can be continued and Japan made to modify her insist ence on parity with Great Britain and the United States.
 This administration has gone so long on the theory that Japan was bluffing and could be out-bluffed that most of the bystanders have decided the theory was all wet.
 The only thing tending to strengthen the first belief as the delegation sails is a hope that all other nations at the conference can be brought into a united front against Japan, thereby persuading her that it would be good thing to back down for the present from her complete denunciation of the Washington and London treaties. Britain Changes Policy
 Hope to slow up Japan rests pri- narily on the fact that Britain and America will have 8 more sympa- ;hetic understanding together than tt any previous international con- 'erence. Until rather recently the British have followed their long, tradition and sought to play of fthe Americans and Japa- 1ese against each other.
 Lately, however, according to diplomatic insiders, the British lave been developing . wholesome ear of Japan and belief that Japanese aggression will sooner or ater lead to a British-Japanese Hash in the Far East.
 This time 1t Is expected the British md the Americans will work to- ,ether to head off 8 gigantic naval ace and will try to get other ,ations-not only those attending he conference-to join them.
 Japan wants a 5-5-5 ship parity ,ecause she expects to rank equally IS 6 first-class power with Eng and and America after she spreads Ter sphere of infleunce through urther Chinese territory and be- al1se she wants to be sure of being .ble to hold and protect all she akes.
 Japan Safe From Attack
 Every naval expert knows that neither the British nor the fleet could successfully ,ttack Japan, even with the 5-5-3 atio prevailing. The Japanese stands are so far away and easy o protect that American naval of- icers view the thought of war on Nippon with actual horror.
 It is even very doubtful whether he combined British and American leets could successfully best the Japanese at this time on their lome grounds.
 And the idea of any such attempts low is preposterous. The Euro- ,ean situation requires England to .eep much of her strength in Euro ,ea1 waters. To move the bulk of into the Pacific would be to ex- ,ose the British Isles and the vital fediterranean-E -Egyptian-Suez Canal he to India.
 And the United States is expe- fencing such a fervor for neutrali- y that it's doubtful whether even apanese seizure of the Philippines a far-off possibility-could bring bout real warfare in the Pacific. )ne Club Over Nippon
 The one punitive measure which ould bring Japan to her knees, n the opinion of officials here, you'd be an economic embargo. apan has recently observed that lations of the world are able to ombine in such a step. She would lot like to be the victim of one.
 These are some of the facts that rise in the minds of Americans anticipating in the naval confer nee as they dare hope for some hing better than a free-for--all Iaval race.
 But each of the delegates knows hat the European situation is so redictable that they'renrfgchoMm so delicate, and so un- 'redictable that they're embarking n no more than a gamble.
 And the pessimism they leave be- ind as they quit these shores sug- ,ests that theirs is not much more han 8 gamblers chance.
 Copyright, 1895, NEA Service, Incl 
 INCOME OF RAILWAY.