WASHINGTON CONFERENCE

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14798, 11 November 1921, Page 7

WASHINGTON CONFERENCE

ADMISSION OF PRESSMEN. SENATOR HARRISON'S RESOLUTION. THE POSITION EXPLAINED. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) NEW YORK, November 8. The New York Times' Washington correspondent says it is interesting to note tbat Senator Harrison's resolution does not give expression to the Senate's desire for the admission of pressmen to those full sessions of conference where votes are recorded containing the proceedings of the conference when the matters for which the conference was called for are considered and acted upon, and the admission of pressmen to the meetings where questions are considered, but Senator Harrison informed, the Senate in supporting the resolution that nothing will he done to embarrass the conference by asking for any information concerning closed sessions. The New York Times' Washington correspondent states that Mr John Wark Garrett, of Baltimore, will receive the American nomination us Secretary- General of the Armament Conference. This, it is expected, will be approved. Mr Garrett comes from a prominent Maryland family, and has served in various diplomatic posts, including Minister to Venezuela, Argentine, Netherlands, Luxemburg, and on many international commissions, ineluding an inspection of the German prison camp at the request of the Trench Government. JAPAN'S NAVAL PROGRAMME. WILLINGNESS TO CURTAIL IT. THE SHANTUNG PROBLEM. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) WASHINGTON, November 8. Admiral Tomosaburo Kato, in an interview, said: "If any proposition at the conference should demand the cutting down of our naval programme, we are ready to do so. I have not any programme to offer, but in accordance with the development of American proposals we may have some suggestions to offer. Japan never expected and never entertained the iuea of the possession of a navy equal to Britain's or the United States.' " The Admiral dwelt on the necessity for Japan to obtain facilities for trade on the Asiatic mainland, which was only a source of added wealth to the United States. Japan did not intend to deprive the peoples there of territory or what was rightfully and exclusively theirs. He added that the Shantung situation was not understood. Japan did not intend to hold territory, and had already withdrawn her troops, save 2000, for guarding railways, and she was ready to turn the territory over to China when the latter was ready to negotiate. The correspondent asked whether Japan was willing to reduce her eight cruisers and eight battleships programme. Admiral Kato replied that she would willingly, and pointed out that the programme was due for completion by 1926.