ADVANCE TO PEACE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17956, 5 December 1921, Page 7

ADVANCE TO PEACE.

ItAVAL ACCORD. ATTAINMENT REPORTED. lAE EASTERN ENTENTE. . JA PAN'S FEARS REMOVED. SUBSTITUTE FOR ALLIANCE. j PACT OF FOUR POWERS. . I By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright. (Received 11.5 P-m.) A. n d N.Z. WASHINGTON. Dec. 3. ' It is understood on high authority that Hjj £, J. Ba'four (Britain), Mr. C. E. Hughes fUniku States), and Admiral ggto (Japan) reached a provisional agreement last night, Japan accepting the 1 £ Te .five-three naval ratio subject to satisfactory arrangements regarding fortifications in the Far East and possibly a subjtitation for the Anglo-Japanese AHianca. 4 tone of strong optimism was struck everywhere to-day as a result of what hM been allowed to be published regard- j ing the'progress of the "Big Three." Tie British spokesman to-day character- J jjed yesterday's proceedings as the second most important event at the conference, tie first being Mr. C. E. Hughes' open-, ing speech. The third stage will be the' announcement of a definite agreement, which is likely to be delayed for some days. I The speaker was careful to explain that i I the agreement is not likely to be in the ■ form of a treaty. This is to allay J American apprehension, but there -will be an understanding, baied on goodwill. It is felt that a settlement on the capital ship ratio will pave the way to quick decisions on other naval problems, which should fall into line automatically once the I tonnage ratio is fixed. The understanding may take the form of an interchange of Notes between Britain, the United States, Japan, and France, agreeing to each other's littorals and not to fortify their possessions. By this means submission of the arrangement to the United States Senate I would be avoided. This plan would also j Tender the Anglo-Japanese Alliance inj operative. It is rumoured that for reasons of domestic policy Japan would herself propose an abrogation of the Anglo Japanese Alliance in favour of some agreement with other nations covering Far Eastern and Pacific questions, France being mentioned in addition to the United States and Britain. Japanese newspaper circles assert definitely that such an agreement is being formulate, and declare that representatives of tha four powers are meeting now, comprising Sir Maurice Hankey for Britain, Mr. Fletcher for the United States, M. Ponsot for France, and Mr. Saburi for Japan. Possibly theie will be some delay in announcing an agreement regarding the naval ratio until- Far Eastern matters are advanced to such r a stage as would give Japan assurance of her position in fie Far East. It is known that Admiral Kato sent an important despatch to Tokio to-night. It is said that the great progress made toward a naval agreement is due to the efforts of Mr. Balfour to convince Japan that her acquiescence is the right thing to do. JAPAN'S LAND FORCES. PREPARED FOR REDUCTION. CONDmONAIi ON AGREEMENT. Australian and N-Z. Cahlo Association. (Reed. 11.30 p-m.) NEW YORK, Deo. 3. The Tokio correspondent of the United Press of America interviewed General Yainanashi, Japanese Minister for War, who declared that Japan would be agreeable to a world reduction of armies immediately. Another high Governmental official stated that this reduction may:be as much as half .Japan's present military j force, provided that an agreement on the Far Eastern question is reached by the Washington Conference.