North Carolina Newspapers

The News &M Olbs TBS XTEATEEX- Ferec! Hertti Carolina Fair WWmMv and prenahly Tnaradayj Jowly rUUg temperature. WATCH LULL H erver eel ywar . Mftd days before exalrstlea la arte a areld mJeslag atagte eeoy. i VOLCXIV. NO. 1535 SIXTEEN PAGES TODAY. RALEIGH, N. C, WEDNESDAY MORNING NOV. 30. 1 92 1 PRICE: FIVE CELTS' v SIXTEEN PAGES TODAY. SHANTUNG VEXES PRESIDENT IS! AT PEACEPARLEY None of Decisions Made By i Wilson Satisfied Him Less ! Than This 'JAPAN DETERMINED. TO SECURE RIGHTS With Italians Demanding rinme and Belgian i Anx ious Abont Reparation!. Little Time Was Left In Which To Negotiate With . Japanese Abont China WOODROW WILSON AS I KNOW HIM BY JOSEPH P. Tt'Ml'LTY (32nd Installment.) (Chapter XXXVI) (Continued ) Wllsea The Leae Hint . Vr lit ataiuij nv.. v:. book "What Wilson Did at Part" says: Of all tha important decision at the Peace Conference none wor ried the President so much as thnt relating to the disposition of the Shantung peninsula and none, fin . ally, satisfied him lest. Not one of the problems he had to meet it Paris, serious as they all were, did he take more personally to heart than this. Tie told aie on one occasion that he had been nnabla to sleep on the pre vious night for thinking of it. "Those last days before the Treaty was finished were among the hardest of the entire Conference. As I hsve said before, the most difficult and dangerous, problems had inevitably been left to the last, and had all to be finally settled in those crowd ed days of late April. "Consider, for a moment, the ex act situation at Paris on April 29th, when the Japanese-Chinese crisis reached the explosive po'ut. It was on that very day that the German delegates were coming morosely into Versailles, ready for a treaty that was not yet finished. The Three for Orlando had then withdrawn from the Conference had been gradually lengthening their sessions, the discussions were longer and mora acrimonious. They war tired out. Only six dpys be fore, on April '23rd, the High Coun cil had been hopelessly deadlocked on tha Italian question. The Presi dent had Issued his bold message to tha world regarding the disposition ef Flams and tha Italian delegation -weparted from Paris with tha capee tation that their withdrawal would - either forte tbe hands of tha Con - femes , ar break it up. "Walla this crisis was at Its height tha Belgian delegation whieh had long been restive over the aon aettlement of Belgiaa claims for rep arations, became insistent. They had no pises in tha Supreme Conncil and they were worried lest the French snd British neither of whom eould begin to get enough money Out of Germany to pay for its loss es would take the lion's share and leave Belgium unreatored. The little nations were always worried at Paris lest the big ones take everything and leave them nothing! Very little appeared in the news at the time concerning the Belgian demands, but they reached practically an, nlti matum: if Belgium ware not satis ted she alio would withdraw from the Conference and refuse to sign the Treaty. "It was at this .critical moment that tha Chinese-Japanese question had to be settled. It had to be set -tied because tha disposition of Ger man righta in China (unlike Italian claims In the Adriatic) had to go into the German treaty before it waa presented to Broekdorff-Rantxau and his delegates at Versailles; and because tha Japanese would not six tha Treaty unless, it wss set tied. The defection of Japan, added to that of Italy and the possible withdrawal of Belgium, would have made the situation desperate. What Japan Desired The two principal things that Japan wanted at tha Peace Con ' ferenes were: first, a recognition in tha Covenant of tha League of Nations of the 'equality of tha na tions and tha just - treatment of their nationals;" tad, second, the recognition of aertaia righta over tha former German, ceneecaioaa in China (Bhantanc.) 'After a stranls lasting all through the Conference, Japan had finally lost out, la tha meeting of tha League of Nations Commission a Anril 11th. in har first oonten tion. She was refused the reeogni iion af racial or even national equal! t which aha demanded, although a majority of the nations represented on the League ol nations commis sion aa-reed with her that her de- lira for aueh recognition waa Just and should find a place in tho (Jove at. " Tew people walks how sharply tha Japanese fait this hurt to their pride; and few people realize tha aiMnlna of this atrucgle, aa a lore tanner of one of tha great epming atruralea of elvlliiatba-the race "Having tost out In their first Mt Mratenttnn the JaDaaeso' earn M tin settlement of their second demand with a feeling of 'irrita tion bat with added determination. ., Tho Japanese delegates 1 were tho taut exnresaive of any at tne ion fercaee, they aaid tha least, bat 11.. tha flnaaat fit UT ia AWV - ing to tho una or ineir interests ana their aareemeaie. it must not oe forgotten also, in all fairness, that " - tho Japanese legates, in mow inau tha British, rrenen. ana American. . bad their own domestic political tmblems. sad wpposition, 'and that there waa a powerful demand in ; . Japan thaCwkilo nil tha ether na- tions .ware seen ring noma return for f m their losses and snertfleos in us waT) .Coa tinned on Page KlaeJT , Over $2,000,000 In Road Bids and Awards Tuesday Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Districts Involved In Record Breaking Letting Here Yesterday; Average Cost Per Mile Advanced to $30,476 Because of Heavy Grad- ' ing; Award Final Contracts Today Slightly more than two million dollars worth of roads were involved in bids opened for five construction projects in the Sixth District, one project in the Fourth District, and in delayed awards of three projects in the Fifth District made ly the State Highway Commission yester day. Contracts in the bids opened yesterday v. ill be awarded formally today. Bids on the Fifth District letting were held over from Novem ber IS. Although bids for surfacing re mnined st sbout the same "level es tablished a month ago, the total cost per mile for hard surfaced roads sdvanced to an average of 30,476 on the 40..15 miles of road let in the Sixth district. Heavier grading, much of it in solid rock, ac counts largely for ths advance in costs submitted by the contractors. Eighty-two bids were offered on the six projects. - ,- 7 Miles af Pavlae-. Low bidders on the Sixth district projects involved in yesterday's let ting are aa follows: Project 639 Iredell, Statesville to Shepherds, 10.50 miles, hard surface. by B. M. Hudson, Salisbury, for Sentiment Seems Strong For Brief Special Session anvass of Members By The News and Observer Finds Brevity In Favor SPENCE WILL OFFER BILL ON CAPITAL PUNISHMENT Farmers' Union and Federa tion of Labor Against General Legislation Although at least one member of tho House of Bepresentntives has prepared a bill for the abolition of capital punishment, and other mem bers are known to be incubating other general legislation, the pre ponderant sentiment of both the House and Senate appears to be defi nitely, against any general legisla tion at the coming special session of tho General Assembly whieh con venes next Tuesday. Inquiry addressed by the News aad Observer to representative members of both . tha House and Senate brought invariably a thumbs-down on a long session from those who bad replied last night. 1n days is the limit to which any member would have the session go, and most of the replies were advocative of even shorter session. The consensus of opinion is to the effect that the ses sion will dissolve not later than Saturday week after it convenes. Labor-Farmer Supremacy Something of surprise was occa sioned yesterday by the declaration o fthe Farmers' Union an dthe State Federation of Labor after the for mation of the coalitW between them that no legislation other than that recommended by the Governor should be undertaken at the special session. It had been generally un derstood that the two organizations would advocate general legislation affecting taxation, and farm credits. Such sentiments were expressed by President James F. Barrett be for he reached Raleigh and conferred with the members of the Farmers' Union executive committee. Presi dent Stone, of the Farmers Union, waa doanitely set against any legis lation, and his opinion prevailed at he conclave yesterday. Reso lutions were adopted urging the General Assembly to. refrain from any but necessary legislation. Capital punishment will be at tacked in a measure that has been prepared by Representative James E. Spence. - Republican, of Randolph eounty. The bill is brief, providing merely for the repeal of the sections of the statutes that provide for the infliction of the death penalty for raps, murder, burglary and arson. Serious, Consideration of tho bill ia considered nnlikely, although at a regular aessioa it would have the support of many influential mem bers, among them Speaker Harry P kOrier. Crior For Brevity. Among the replies to Tho News and Observer's inauirr as to the at titude of members of tho Geaeral Aasembly toward a long oession are tho following: Harry P. Grier, " Speaker of the House: It is my opinion that the Legislature should finish its work in not exceeding ten days as I under stand that tho Governor has no other matters other than those mentioned in bis 'call, for the consideration of tho General Assembly. AH local leg islation eould bo considered and passed upon within this, period. Benafbr Lunaford Long: I am cob fident that tho special aession will Undertake ao legislation of general nature or of. puMio interest other than the two specific matters of pub lie school funds and municipal finance, which arc of eneh urgent nstorc aa to necessitate its call, and thnt having taken care of these mat tcrsf it Will adjourn sine die - aa quickly as possible, which could be within about tea days.' Of course, neb desired local legislation as may receive attention without' protracting tho session will undoubtedly- bo, con sidered and enacted. I believe this course will unquestionably be ap proved by the people generally at this time. lepreseutative WN. . Everett, chairman ef House-'Appropriations (Continued fa fag T?e) s332.544.54t Bridges by Luten Bridge Co., for 1,681.30. Project 653 Mecklenburg, Char lotto toward Statesville, 8.S4 miles, hard surface, by Union Paving Co Philadelphia, for fTO .940.90. Bridges bv Luten Bridie Co.. rinoxviiie,-:or io,724.. Project 665 Mecklenburg, Char lotto toward Concord, 1.57 miles, hard surface, by (Speed Parker Co., Louisville, for 051.088.30. Project 6.(2 Gaston, Gastonia to Cleveland county line, 8-5 miles, hard surface, Davis Wilcox Construction Co.. SDencerville. O., road and bridges, for S265J35J0. Project 622 Catawba, Newton to Burke eounty line, 10.58 miles, hard surface, I'nion Paving Co, Philafic! phia, 322,440.8O. Fourth district construction, of grading and bridges between Hills horo a-nd the Alamance county line was bid off by Crawford and Craw ford, Mebarhe, for grading, at S17, 44270, and the bridges by Nello L Teer, of Durham, for 1Q,61I. Fifth District Awards. Awards were announced for the (Continued on Page Two.) CANT GET LINE T No Agreement Anywhere As To Exactly What Harding Means To Say The News and Observer Bureau, 603 Dsitrict National Bank Mldg By EDWARD E. BRITTON. (By Special Leased Wire.) Washington, Nov. 29. Conflicting opinions crowd each other here among those who endeavor to get a lino on what President Harding's real position is with regard to some kind ef an association of nations to grow out of the present arms parley, There does not appear agreement anywhere aa to what exactly is meant by the President. On one side there is a disclaimer of President Harding having taken any filed position in ths matter, those who take this view saying that it was only in the eourse of casual conversation he spoke of the matter, that perhaps aa association for in ternational co-operation might grow out of the present conference. An other view is that the President spoke definitely, that back of the plan which has brought the resent eon ference was the idea that it might be utilized as the vehicle for the for ma tion of that nebulous association of natioi t about which Presidential Nominee Harding spoke at times when he was on his campaign tour around his front porch in Marion Hut whatever he means now he has it well smoke-screened and it only a hazy kind of an affair that is seen by the men on the outside of his best minds coterie. Senator Borah Eaters Fray. Senator Borah declaims violently tlat President Harding is leading tho way with a backward movement by the bock door into that pet abomi nation of the Idaho Senator, the League of Nations, and at once be comes again an "irreconcilable'' to it Over in England Lord Robert Cecil ses in the Harding idea a bid. for the countries in tho League of Nations to scrap it and become liners in the Harding association It would be worse than madness to do any such thing is his view, saying: 'The League of Nations actually is in working order, and it would bo worse than madness to abandon that organization for the hope of pntting anything-ln its plsce unless we know exactly what it is.' In his words there is tho confes sion that he too is in the dark as to What PrtHw1int Ifsrdlno, m wherein Lord tcil is in exactly the same position as millions of Ameri cans, as tbey were in. the days of the campaign for the presidency, for at nag tost tune it was "wiggle and wobble" aa to exactly where Candi uaie naramr stood. And on top of these things today Arinur J. ualtour of the British delegation declared that the Harding aisociatjon of nations plan on naral- lei lines with tho League of Nations win not suit, and aa Great Britain is a staunch member of the Learn hi "remarks and question that "we don t want two Leagues of Nations dq wet" is one that should set Presi dent Harding to thinking. Students of the Harding mind and methods should agree on what appear to be the real purpose of the semi-official announcement that President Hard ing proposed to call for an associa tion of aationa with simply a rem tleman's agreement" lis ita backbone. Thia fjurpose may be well described as a leelrr after public oninion. and as "feeler" it is working most admirably both on this side of ike big pond and on the other side fat Oil As s Feeler. .. If the ides m gobbled up, aad it appears that it will be, a go, then In duo time there will eomo the an nouncement that PresMoat Harding really meant It and will start put as a charter member aad organiser of in: "association of nations.". If the idea is coolly received aad given the . XOon tinned ea Page Eighty- Mi GENERAL SPIRIT BAT S Europe Feels New Effort To Interest United States Has Failed HOPES EXTINGUISHED BY HUGHES' POLICY Anglo . French Rumpus Has Disquieting Effect Upon America and Brings Abont Atmosphere of Hostility; Simonds Says Wells Is Nationalistic Propagandist By FRANK it. BIMONDS. Washington, Novv 29. Despite tbe fact that no one takes very seriously the possibility of a break between the United States and Japan over the naval ratio, there is no mistak ing. the mounting pessimls'm in most quarters over the prospects of the present conference. The fact is the French have gone heme, the Italians are going, neither the Dutch nor the Belgians disguise the lack of interest which the present -and the future of the proceedings have for them, while the British journalists pretty generally lytray their coun try's disappointment The cause of the pessimism jind disappointment is not hard to dis cover. From the European noiut of view the conference was looked for ward to as a meeting which was going in some way not quite dis coverable in advance to make the conditions of life and the circum stances of National existence and in ternational relations on that conti nent more tolerable. And today the whole business is comprehended to use the phrase of the foreign ob server in the endeavors of some di plomatists sitting in private confer ence to decide upon the number of obsolete ships to be scrapped and to pass some pious resolutions regard ing China which cannot be enforced and are not in the least like to be observed when force is lacking. New Effort Has Failed Europe feels two things quite manifestly, first that a new effort to interest the United Htatoa in its situation has failed, not only aa the Paris conference failed ultimately, but in the present case that tbe Amerieaa refusal has been prompt and unconditional. Europe feels also quite as plainly that the Anglo- irench rumpus of recent days Lai had a widespread and evil effect in the United States ia confirming the determination of Americans gener ally to keep out of European entan glements. When Mr. Hughes made his open ing address which so thrilled that audience which was the American public, the applause of both Europe and Asia was polite rather than un- rostraaned. It was a faint echo of the applause which greeted Wilson when he first unfolded to Europe his plan for a League of Nations. But having applauded, Europe and Asia both waited to ses what reference would be made later to subjects in which they were vitally concerned. At the second open session, when Mr. Hughes did not open the Far Eastern question, the Japanese snt back with evident relief snd sccept- ed the Far Eastern question as dis posed of, that is to say they ap preciated at once that the United States was not to undertake to do fend China by force or challenge the accomplished facts of Japanese power in the Far East. Their Hopea Exngaished There remained the hopes of the various European nations and par ticularly the hope of Britain that the United States by insirting that land disarmament should be dis- euased seriously; would open the way to the reduction of the French army which is the night mare of England There was a similar hope on the part of the French that some sign would come from Mr. Hughes that bis coun try would take up the pledge of Mr. Wilson and revive the treaty of guarantee against Germany. Both hopes were in due eourse of time extinguished snd in this period there developed that Ana-lo- French quarrel which has hsd one terribly disastrous effect. Mr. Hughes had deliberately set out to restrict the objective of the conference to limits which made positive results possible. But his hope frequently expressed was that the realization of some actual agreement, if only in the matter of a naval holiday, would demonstrate the existence, of a will for peaee in the world and thus open the way for" later agreements on more Important questions, prob ably at later international gather ings. No .Atmosphere ef Peace. But after the Anglo-French explo aion ana while Italian mobs were assailing French consulates because of remarks falsely ascribed' to Bri sad, when American correspondents tight in this city were listening to the chief British press agent an nouneing that his country would de stroy Franco if it built submarines. when the ehief French spokesman waa declaring that the French dele gation would quit if tbe Germans were invited to come to Washington, when ths leading British internation aliat In fiction-journalism waa con ducting a fierce Nationalistic cam paign against France and the best known French journalist present was using ths Americsn press to pin prick British statesmsnship, who eonld cherish ths illusion that the atmosphere af peace waa gaining ground in the worM? Mr. Balfour made a very generous response to M. Brian d a plea for r '(Continued ea Page JhreX OF PESS 1 CONGRESS STEPS TAKEN TO ABOLISH FOREIGN COURTS IN CHINA Far East Committee Adopts Resolution On Extra Territorial Matter FOREIGN TROOPS TO BE CONSIDERED NEXT Commission of Jurists To Make Investigation of Chi nese Law and Conrt Free tices and Report Within a Tear; Other,. Matters Pre sented By Chinese Washington, Nov. 29. (By the Associated Press.) China won fur titer concessions today in the eon ference of the nine powers on ques tions affecting the Pacific, snd the rar hast In conformity With the Root resolutions declaring for the territorial snd administrative in tegrity of China, the Pacific and Far Eastern committee adopted reso lutions looking to abandonment of foreign courts in China. The reso lutions drafted by the sub-eom mittee. headed by Senator IxHige, provide for. an international com mission of jurists, which is to re port within a year whether the t hinese laws and court practices warrant abandonment of the foreign courts, created under treaties grant ing extra-territorial rights in China Want Troops Withdrawn. Immediately these resolutiona were adopted, the Chinese delegates prcs sen another of their ten pointa thnt declaring for withdrawal of all foreign troops from Chinese soil, and a'so for abandonment of foreign,, telegraph, radio and police wire systems. Dr. Be, Chinese min ister here and a delegate to the conference, presented detailed in form.Ttion regarding the number of troops and extent of foreign wire systems, in which the Japanese predominate, and there was wide discussion of the questions hv all the delegates behind closed doors Troop and Wire Question. General adherence, it was said, was given to the principle of retirement of foreign troops and wire systems from China, in conformity with the principles of the Root resolu tion. Qualifications were presented however, by Japanese spokesmen who dealt with tbe necessity of policing railroads and telegraph lines. Discussion of the troops and wire questions are to continue to morrow with prospects that a so lution will be worked out by the delegates of the nine powers with out reference of the details to sub-committee. Another Chinese question, that ef tariff and other revenue, waa taken up biter in the d.iy by a sub com mittee headed by Senator Under wood, of the American delegation An intitial meeting of the sub com mittee lasting almost three hours, was said to have developed the ne cessity for intensive study of Chi r.ese f inances and the sub committee adjourned without action until to morrow afternoon. Need More Reveaae. In the discussion, it was said that rvhina's needs for ineresaed revenue were recognized generally, but whether an increase in the presen five per cent tariff was necessary was snid to be a question requir ing considerable study. Administra tion of the customs laws by Chinese officials also was reported to have been a subject of the debate The Chinese position, it waa aaid favored a tariff increase to the 1 12 per cent figure suggested some time ago by Great Britain, but eon siderahl divergence of opinion was said to have developed among repre sentatives of the other powers. It will be several days, it waa said before any report can be submitted to the full committee. Stress. Troops Mstter. ... Stress was laid by the Chinese delegates before the Far Eastern committee today on the question of foreign troops in China. Their prej ence, Dr. Sze declared, palpably was a violation of Chinese integ rity inasmuch as the troops were sent into the republic without China's consent and over her pro tests. Dr. Sze asked that tho eon ference "specifically discountenance' the alleged violations. He gave min ute data regarding ths number of troops, police stations and other fea tores which China is protesting, Prince Tokugawa, of Japan, told newspaper men later in the day tha Japan "intends to sbolish the sys tem under whieh Jspanese troops are in China as soon as possible This waa takea to mean withdrawal of the troops would begin when satisfactory formula toward the problem of China was worked out by the conference. QUIET FOLLOWS BIG Waterfront battle New Orleans, Nov. 19. Quiet reigned today at the scene of last night's pitched battle'on the water front between police and eympntnls era of the striking union dock work ers. It was indicated today that early settlement of the strike waa possibility, the union having voted to open negotiations with the New Orleans Steamship Association. Iron bars, bricks, clubs and ftfts were used in last night's battle which started when non-union workers kaoeked-off for the day. It was esti mated that twenty men were scr iously beaten. . Ilajiaa Destroyer Sink " London, oy. J. The Italian de stroyer. Ceatraara has gone down in the Mediterraeaan eft the port e Adalia during a storm, according to a dispatch from Brladbri to ths DabMiW-(Th Centraae ia net libtsd XiltlUdbiA jara, Jt4teil AMERICAN NOT ACCEPT ANY PROPOSAL TO MODIFY NAVAL PROGRAM Refreshing Promises In Ebb Tide At League of Nations, First American Initiative Toward Or ganized World Peace, Stands Now on Shelf, Says H. G. Wells; In Place of World Constitution We Now Have at Washington World Conversation. By B. G. WEl.is. (By Arrangement Wirh The New York World and the Chicago Tribune) Washington, Nov. I'. The League of Nations was the first American initiative towards an organised wurld wide enthusiasm evoked by its early promise, its Strug gle to exist, its abandonment by America, ita blunders and omissions and the useful incomplete body that now represents it in Genets, are the material of an immense conflicting literature. For a time at lea.st, the League is in the background. It has not kept hoi f of the popular imagination of the world. 1 will not touch here upon the mistakes snd di putes, the possible arrogance, The possible jealousies, the inadvisable compromises, the unnecessary conces sions that made the League a leaser thing than it had I I! I promised to be. I can a project, into which many nations came mainly to please America, failed to retain the official support of things, the historian or the novrlist The fact remains that the project was beginnings, a very great thing indeed darkness of international conflictnnd a halo of greatness about lhe nation did and yet so humanly limited man its promise and its partial failure. E LINEf FIXEO Heads of Farmers' Union and State Federation of Labor Sign Agreement Pledging themselves ss "the chosen representatives of ths 8tate's two great and Indispensable forces" to use every means of promoting the welfare and happiness of the farmer and the wage earner, President James F. Barrett, of the State Fed eration of Labor, and President R W. H. Stone, of the Bute Farmers' Union, set their names to a "Declara tion of Affiliation" yesterday. The coalition of the organized farmers and the organised labor forces of the State was effected at a conference of ths executive com mittees of the two organisations railed here at the suggestion of President Barrett. Members of both organizations declared after tht signing of the Declaration ef Affil iation that political considerations wer not touched upon in the dis cussion leading to the promulga tion of the declaration. "Manipulations of speculators,'' snd ths "machinations of politic ians,' are mentioned arid denounced in the declaration, the former be cause they prey upon the producer without compensation for its labor, and tbe latter because they have raised barriers between the farmer and the wage earner, creating the impression that the two classes are enemies. Both will have to be met and eonquered, it is set forth. Mast Ssve Stat. Further than the general declara tion of the amalgamation of in terest and influence,- aad the plan to campaign actively for their com mon interest, the officials of the two organizations do not go. Politicians who always do the bidding of their bosses have all but ruined the State and the Nation, it is declared, and these must be discredited through the combined action of the farmer and the wsge esrner. The Declare tion of Affiliation reads: : BcfweiJfi "" th ' fiftteT "SBcI "Hie wage, earners, civilization's two great and necessary forces, there has been erected by a common enemy a bar rier of prejudice .that has played hsvoe with both the farmers and the wage workers. The wily manip ulations and expert propaganda of the speculators who neither produce nor convert raw products into finished articles, have succeeded ia creating in the minds of millions of farmers and wage earners the impression that the farmer and the laborer are natural enemies, each advancing at the expense of the other. As a result of this false im , pression n small clique of poll tirians who always do the bidding of their bosses hav all but ruined cur State and Nation "If Christiaaity is to survive; if civilization is to progress; if hu man freedom and liberty are not to become mere hollow mockeries of the declaration of independence and our National Constitution, the farm rs and wage workers must strike to the dust that barrier of prejudice and ignorance. and shoulder to shoulder batt'e for the common rights ef mankind. , "Feeling keenly the responsibility resting upon us as officers and mem bers of the executive boards of the North Carolina Farmers Educational aad Co-operative Union and , Pint Federation of Labor, ia ' a special called joint meeting, do hereby pledge anrselves to the task of bringing together in all rgihteous causes tha fanners and wage work era of North 'Carolina. We do not a aderestimate the forces of oppo sition we shall meet Powerful influences, combinations of wealth aad the machinations of politicians, will have ta bo met and conquered. Plana will lie perfected whereby the farmers aad wage workers may meet and discuss all common prob lems aa matters of interest There is a direct flesh aad blood eoa BARRETT-STON JL' OentUuee-, aa Page Two) DELEGATES WILL Washington peace. Its beginning, the world will not discuss why so entirely Amen the American government, uf such may write, but not the journalist. a project noble and hopeful in its in human history, a dawn in the competition, an adventure that threw that produced it and about that splen who has been chiefly identified with Largely Aa America Idea. It was, I insist, very largely an American idea and only America, because of her freedom from the complex and bitter spirited traditions of the European foreign offices could have brought such a proposal into tli arena of practical politics Ths American nation is exception ally free from ancient traditions of empire, ascendency, expansion, glory and the like. It is haunted by a dream, an obstinately recurrent dream, of a whole world organized for peace. It eomes back to that with a notable persistence. The League of Nations stands now, as it were, on the shelf, an experiment not wholly satisfactory not wholly a failure, destined for searching reconsideration at no dis tant date. Meanwhile, the Amorican tnlnd, with much freshness and bold ness, has produced thin seeond ex periment, na a widely different dfree tion, the first Washington Confer ence for the Limitation of Arma meats. The League of Nations was too definite and cramped ia Hi eon stitunon, too wide in its powers. It was a premature super state. One standard objection, and a very reas onable one, was that America might be out voted by quite minor powers and be obliged to nndertake respon sibilities for which it had ao taste. Ths second experiment, therefore, has been tried very properly with the loosest of constitutions and the most severely defined and limited of aims. We are beginning to see that, it too, is an experiment, likely 1 to he successful within its limits but again not wholly satisfactory. Instead of a world constitution, we have had a world conversation. Decided Ebb Ia Spirit That conversation has passed from the oien sessions of the Conference to the two eommitttes of five upon the limitation of land and sea arma ments and the Pacific committee of nine. In all these committees there are wide fluctuations of thought and temper. There are daily communications to the press from this committee or that, from this delegation or that, from a score of propagandas. It is really not worth the while of the ordinary citizen to follow these squabbles and flights and recriminations snd excitements. Certain broad piin- eiples have been established; the ordinary citizen will be advised to hold firmly to these and see that he gets them carried through. ' AndTwnr theee'Ijan tcen- decided' ebb in the high spirit of the Con ference. -These disputes about de tails have produced a considerable amount of fatigue, attention is fatigued, and the exploit of M. Briand has for a time shattered and confused the general mentality. The American public was in a statu of pure and simple enthusiasm for peace and disarmament and quite unprepared for the exploit of M. Ilriand. Like all serious shocks, it dH not st first produce ita full result. The mood was so amiable here, so eager for cheering and emo tional human brotherhood, thnt when France, in the person of M. Briand,. snapped her fingra at the mere idea of disarmament and quoted a twenty year old passage from a dead German Field Marshal to justify a vast army and an ag gressive naval programme in the face of an exhausted Europe, there waa a touching disposition on the part of a considerable section of the American press to greet this display aa in some way conducive to our millennial efforts. Only a very few of us called a spade a spade right away and declined to protend that the irony and Restrained, indig nation of Mr. Balfour and Signor fVhnnzer were "endorsements" of M. Briand's stupendous claim that France, with her submaxines and Senegalese, might do as she pleased IA Europe. The facts that the csustie and restrained ntteiances of these gentlemen could be so eon strued, and that the London Daily Mail should attempt - to break and mutilate my comments oa the French altitude, demonstrate beyond doubt the need there was for tho utmost outspokenness in this matter. But the situation is now better realized. The nlr here ia rather .clearer for the outburst France, we realise, has to atop bullying Germany and threatening Italy; Europs can only be caved by the honest aad late- ' . (CoaUaasd en PagVMaelT" Any Attack On 5-5-3" Ra tio Regarded As Attack On FundamentaP Prin ciple Limitation Plan . BELIEVE JAPAN WILL ACCEPT PROPOSAL AS OUTLINED BY HUGHES Authoritative Pirnres Show Japan To Have Less Than The 60 Per Cent Statns Would Untitle Her; Japa ness Spokesman Declares Admiral Kato's Conten tion Por a 70 Per Cent Statns Merelj a Personal Expression; No Announce ment of Final .Position of Japanese Delegation On Matter; Hints That a Plen ary Session of The Confer, ence May Be Held Soon Washington, Nov. 29. (By the As sociated Press ) -The purpose of tha American delegation to the arma conference to accept no modification of Secretarv Huirhes' nronosad - , "5-5-3'' ratio of naval strength as ' the fundamental basis of sny limi tation agreement was authoritatively stated today. The statement was hacked by disclosure of tbe facts aa to existing nnvsl al ,vk . This showed Japan to have lose - than the (W per cent status to which no mstter what method of calcula tion waa applied. It showed also that the American delegates had been over the whole field before offering the plan and that their figures were correct Kato'a "Personal Opinion." Meanwhile, "rince Tokugawst, al the Japanese delegation, declared that the statement yesterday of Vice Admiral Eato, of the Japanese! advisory staff, contending for a 70 per cent status for Japan, wss basea -n "personal opinion" alone. It waa not, the Prince said, sponsored by tho delegation of which Vice Ad miral Kato ia not a member. Prince Tokugawa would not reveal, however, the actual view of tho Japanese delegates ah to what per centage Japan would insist upon ia fleet strength. He said the fonr delegates were determining thia for themselves, independently of any additional instructions from Tokio. He would net say whether a de cision actually had been reached as yet v, Declaloa Draws Near, Wlille these developments !ndi- cated still more strongly that a da-' cision of this fundamental question was drawing near, the arms eoafcr"-. ence itself marked time. A further meeting of the naval experts of tha United r.tatcs and Japan, scheduled for today, was postponed for twenty-, -four hours at request of the Japaa -ese. The Americans were not in-, formed ss to the reason for tnia. postponement. At Japanese head quarters it was said further 41mo to examiie figures supplied by the' Americana was needed. jn any ease, me naval expert of the three powers ehlefly concern ed are scheduled to meet tomorrow ,1. . . i j -1 : t. . is iui iiiri eu ir-i ummiiLtrv riiuvi- tions. Their work cannot deal with any major factor in the American naval plan, however, for today's. , rovedations showed that these con stitute a closed chapter of proceed inga. The British experts have fully accepted the accuracy of the original American' fleet' estihirireit"The Jap-T"" anese have been able to produce no figures competent to challenge successfully the American shewing. -Plenary Session Probable. There were hints that a plenary sesaon of the arms conference might be called next week. . This eould not be confirmed in any authorita tive quarter, it is known, however,' that when that meeting is called it will mean that the delegates are preparing to reach' a decision. There is no present expectation that the fundamental question of the "t 5 3", ratio or any other major point will be worked out at the plen ary ses-Ion. Officials closest to the negotiations expect that informal mcrtjuirs between the virions dcie gates will bring about tha ultimate -agreement by personal touch. It will then be translated into cotfor ene, action. . Expect Japan To Accept It is no secret that the Amerieaa group expects Japan to accept the ' '5 5 3' ratio. It is also equally clear -' that the United States will not accept i -any enlargement of the status offered ' to Japan. That was clear ta ths t most casual observer after tha Amer ican delegates, with the exeeptioa af :.: Senator Underwood", who could no be present, again talked over the naval situation today in Cecretary Hughes' office. Mr. Hughes, Senator.; Lodge, Mr. Boot and Mr. Underwood are known to be ef one mind on that and to be bseksd by the full - -approval ef President Harding aad f all administration efftsers. :'. ; i t -Tha American group' has Jte 4eubl that American public opinion fully supports tha "S-fi-S" retio.. IS waa ' made dear today that if the questloa of aationa! security, brought. .up by Vice Admiral Kato were considered, a rati of vea 10 to 5 ia capital ship ' strength' u to- Japan -would not adequately express American asedi or- British1 needs. 'It waa ' for that mecoa that tha Amerieaa plan' f"XConttnfl4 etf Twrt'l) v.