New-York tribune. [volume], November 24, 1921, Image 1

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ALL MERCHANDISE
ADVERTISED IN THE
TRIBUNE IS GUARANTEED
Vol. l.XXXl No. 27,402
(Copyright, lot I,
New York Tribune Inc.)
jondi
First to Last?the Truth: News?Editorials?Advertisements
THE WEATHER
Rain and warmer to-day; cl?sating to?
morrow; fresh east and south?
east winds.
Full Report nn J.t-it Pac?
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 3921
# sp *
TWO CF.VT3
?n Greater New York
THRKF ( fTVT??
Within 100 ??1???
FOtn fPNTS
F,l?A*?n?i??
Hedley Backs
Transit Board
Li Unity Plan
a/
Method of Selecting Body
to Run Lines Criticized
by I. R. T. Chief as Mix
ins; Polities in Traction
5-(>nt Fare Must
Suffice, He Says
Big Dividends Paid From
Swollen Receipts Blamed
for Intecborough Plight
Frank W. Hedley, president and gen
?ra! manager of the Interborough
Rapid Transit Company, testifying yes?
terday before the Transit Commission,
virtually indorsed the Commission's
plan of traction consolidation. Hi3
only criticism was directed at the
formation of the proposed board of
control, to be composed of three mem?
bers named by the Mayor, three by the
security holders of the unified system
and a seventh to be elected by the two
groups or appointed by the Commission
m case of disagreement.
While agreeing that common owner?
ship of the transit lines, coupled with a
pooling of all elements, presented the
best solution of the transit problem,
Mr. Hedley declared that the inclusion
on the board of control of appointees
named by an official body, whether the
Mayor or the Board of Estimate and
Apportionment, would react against the
interests of the community.
Hedley Suggests Plan
"I have no doubt the commission
Is laboring to eliminate both the pos?
sibility of stock speculation and the
possibility of the transportation scheme
being used as a political football," he
?aid, "but I do not know whether you
have accomplished this."
Mr. Hedley's suggestion was that
the three members proposed to be
named by public authority be selected
by some such organization as the Bar
Association. The representation, he
said, should reflect the desires of the
public, the owners and the employees.
"Then," he added, "you have no
'chance of having any secrets. You
have to lay all your cards on the table,
right side up, and that is my way of
doing business."
The transit chief occupied the stand
during the entire day. His expres?
sions frequently caused merriment,
particularly when he said he was not
g?eking a job under the proposed con?
solidation and that he had not looked
for a job since he. began his railroad ?
career in 1885 as a machinist on the :
Manhattan '"L."
Mr, Hedley frankly discussed the ?
condition of "the Interborough, which. ?
?he said, was striving to keep from go- j
Ing into bankruptcy, with the hope
that the "tribunal sent down here"
would find a relief for the situation.
Financial Record Disapproved
i
Disclaiming responsibility for the j
financial affairs of the company prior j
to October, 1910, when he was ap- !
pointed president, Mr. Hedley. ex- '
pressed disapproval of the financial
methods that had been employed in
the past. lie agreed that the payments
of huge dividends from swollen reve?
nues were largely responsible for the
Interborougb's present stress, and that
the balance sheet of the company as of
June SO, 1921, which has been under
fire, did not properly reveal the actual
financial condition.
Mr. Hedley declared ho did not be?
lieve in borrowing money to pay divi?
dends, as it. was disclosed had been
done before he became president. He
said such a course could not be pur?
sued to-day, because the known con?
dition of the Interborough was such
that lie did not "think anyone who had
money, outside of a lunatic asylum,
would loan me a dollar." * '
"If dividends are paid during my ad?
ministration they will be paid only
ft cm earnings," declared Mr. Hedley, in
Stating that the company was pur?
suing a conservative policy different
from the past.
He defended the service of the com?
pany as being the best that could be
given with the money available, and
said that a five-cent fare was all he
"expected to get for quite a while."
Dividend Plan Explained
Several new phases dealing with the
action of the directors in declaring fat
dividends prior to 1919 were touched
upon while Mr. Hedley was on the
stand.
George McAneny, chairman of the
commission, inquired of the witness if
the Interborough directors had not
taken advantage of the delays that fol?
lowed the postponement from 1917 to
1919 of the dual plan of pooling reve- .
nues with the city to dissipate their in?
creased revenues for these years in
swollen revenues.
Mr. Hedley gave a qualified answer
and Mr. McAneny went on:
"Because of the accidental postpone?
ment, of the date of pooling the com?
pany had these large funds in the
treasury, nnd instead of holding them
for the exigencies of the future it pre?
ferred to dissipate them before the
pooling commenced?"
, -'That is what it did," admitted Mr.
Bedley.
- Declaring that men who had spent
a life-time in the transportation busi
(Contlnuftd on page $lx)
Patrolman Kills One
Of Six Who Attack Him
?Uses Revolver When Clubbed
br Men Who Come to Aid
of Robber Suspect
Patrolman William Bostwick, of the
Morrisania Station, resisting an at
r,k niad? upon him by six men at
Jij-nd Street and Wales Avenue, the
?*?*?% early this morning, shot and
g?ed Richard Barry, 35 years old, a
chauffeur, of 322 East 144th Street, ac?
cording to the police. Bostwick was
?ken to Lincoln Hospital suffering
irom concussion of the brain.
Bostwick was standing nearby when
?e heard the crash of glass in front of
* store at the corner. He ran up and
Mreed a man. Another man stepped
'Tom the doorway and wrenching the
Patrolman's nightstick from his hand,
?truck him on the head with it. The
Patrolman dropped to the pavement.
At the samo time, the patrolman said,
*<>ur other men were advancing toward
?mi. Bostwick drew hi? revolver and
?red two shot?, one of which penetra?
te? Barry's chest. The other men fled.
Bostwick ia twenty-six years old. He
?a? been on the police force lesa than
? year.
I
Bump Causes Beatty
To Wear Cocked Cap
WASHINGTON, Nov. 23 (By
The Associated Press).?An ex?
planation was obtained to-day for
Admiral Beatty's habit of wear?
ing his cap jauntily cocked to one
side.
"It's not swank; it's a bump,"
said the hero of Jutland, and he
removed the cap to show that a
peculiar conformation on one side
made it uncomfortable, if not im?
possible, for him to wear the stiff
naval headgear on "a level keel."
Eiforts to carry his headgear at
a normal angle, the Admiral said,
inevitably caused severe head?
aches, so he has finally come to
his present style.
I. C. C* Takes Up
New Reduction
In Rail Rates
First Hearing Is Set for De?
cember 14; Executives
Propose 10 Per Cent Re?
duction and Wage Change
Offer Immediate Relief
Lower Tariff on Farm Prod?
uce Would Be Substi?
tute for Grain Ruling
WASHINGTON, Nov. 23.?A general
investigation to determine if any
further reduction of railroad rates
could be required was ordered to-day
by the Interstate Commerce Commis?
sion. At the same time the Associa?
tion of Railway Executives proposed
to the commission a 10 per cent re?
duction in carload freight rates on
farm products, coupled with a reduc?
tion in railroad wages, as a substitute
for the order of the commission dated
October 20 reducing rates on hay and
grain shipments.
In its announcement of the inquiry
on possible rate reductions the com?
mission fixed December 14 as the date
for the first hearing. The investiga?
tion was instituted, the commission
said, "to determine whether and to
what extent, if any, further general
reductions in the rates, fares and
charges of carriers by railroads ap?
plicable in interstate or foreign com?
merce can lawfully be required by
order of the commission under the
intestate commerce act upon any com?
modities or descriptions of traffic."
Two General Reductions
The commission recalled that it had
acted recently in two proceedings look?
ing to general reduction in rates, one |
on livestock in the "Western district,
upon which reductions became effective
in September, and the other on hay
and grain in the same district, effective
December 27.
The executives in their proposition
for reduced rates on farm products,
coupled with wage cuts, suggested that
the substitute schedules be effective
for "an experimental period of six
months." The commission was asked
to reopen its decision of October 20 in
order that argument might be given in
behalf of their proposal.
The suggested reduction on carload
shipments, it was explained, would
cover grains, hay, cotton and cottonseed
and its products?except meal and oil
?citrus f^nd fresh fruits, livestock and
dairy products.
The scope of the proposed cut in
wages was not indicated, the statement
merely saying that "the benefit of the
reduction thus obtained" from the
Railroad Labor Board shall be passed
to the public in reduced rates.
Any reduction in rates made since
September 1, 1920, would "constitute a
part of this 10 per cent." Under the
railroads' suggestion it was specified
further that the proposed reduction
shall not apply to. the movement of such
trafic wholly within New England.
"The effect of this proposal," said
the application, "will be an immediate
reduction in carload rates on the prod?
ucts* of agriculture and the products of
animals, which are mentioned, but as
?-oon as aud to the extent that a re?
duction in wages is obtained from the
Labor Board on the proposed applica?
tion ja further reduction in rates (ex?
cept as meanwhile put into effect), to
be? distributed among the users of
transportation in such manner as this
honorable commission may determine.
Gives Immediate Aid
"The proposal thus deals immediate?
ly, and without waiting for a reduc?
tion in operating costs, in the manner
stated, with the needs of agriculture
and undertakes to make further reduc?
tions not confined to agriculture as
scon as further reductions are made
possible."
"Your petitioners," the application
continued, "submit that, if there is to
be a reduction in rates for the benefit
of agriculture, there seems little justi?
fication for confining such reductions
(Continued on page eight) '
Sinn Fein to
Offer Ulster
Concessions
Guaranty Against Undue
Subordination toDublin
Ready, if Lloyd George
Settlement Is Rejected
Premier to Meet
Craig To-morrow
North Won't Be Coerced,
He Promises; 18 Dead,
75 Hurt, Belfast Toll
From The Tribune's European Bureau
Copyright, 1921, New York Tribune Inc.
LONDON, Nov. 23.?As a last resort,
if Premier Lloyd George is unable to
reach a settlement of tho Irish prob?
lem with the Ulstermen, the Sinn Fein
would be prepared to make a settle?
ment with the government and after?
ward settle with the-Ulstermen, it de?
veloped at a conference to-day between
the Premier, Viscount Birkenhead and
Austen Chamberlain, on the one side,
and Arthur Griffith and Michael Col?
lins on the other. The meeting was
held In Downing Street, and was the
first between the government and the
Sinn Felners since Sir James Craig,
the Ulster Premier, was brought into
negotiations with Lloyd George.
After the meeting Lloyd George
asked Sir James to postpone their con?
ference, scheduled for to-morrow, until
Friday, and it is expected that by then
Lloyd George will be able to offer the
Ulstermen concessions from the Sinn
Fein.
To-day's conference was primarily to
discuss the new situation created by
Ulster's refusal to join the All-Ireland
Parliament and to explore an alter?
native solution, but the Irish repub?
licans also raised the question of the
situation in Belfast, where the 9 o'clock
curfew law was imposed to-night.
Won't Amend Unity Demand
The Premier sought to induce the
Sinn Feiners to agree to an alternative
plan to the one already drafted, which
should be put up to Ci-aig for considera?
tion, but they were firm in their insist?
ence that the unity of Ireland must be
the basis of any settlement. The Sinn
Feiners, however, are ready t? consider
the Ulstermen's practical objections to
such unity, and the discussion centered
about ways and means to avoid undue
subordination of the Northern Parlia?
ment to Dublin, especially in connec?
tion with finance.
After the meeting Lord Birkenhead
made a cautious reference to it ?33.
the course of a saeech at the Aldwych
Club. "The door which excludes hope
is not definitely closed," he said. "The
Irish conference is subtly linked with
the Washington conference?whose
failure would involve international
bankruptcy?and I can't describe what
the relief would be with the removal of
one chronic and permanent cause of
antagonism between the United States
and Britain."
Despite this semi-hopeful tone the
Ulstermen shov.- few signs of yielding,
and the situation in Belfast is tense.
Some hundred casualties have been re?
ported from there this week, and al?
though there was a. lull in the fight?
ing to-day, fresh outbreaks are ex?
pected. A daring raid on the Wind?
sor barracks, in which machine guns
and rifles were seized, is believed to
have been inspired by Irish partisans.
The raid was a striking evidence of the
contention that peace in Ireland is not
so near as many believe.
The Sinn Feiners have lost much of
their bitterness toward the English
government, but are growing restless
over the delay in the negotiations and
are regarding the developments in
Ulster with much concern.
A political crisis, involving the res?
ignation of the Lloyd George govern?
ment, is no longer expected, but the
Premier's associates see little hope of
a solution of the Irish probler3i before
Christmas. The first .phase of the ne?
gotiations proved less difficult than
was expected, but the second stage has
become considerably complicated.
Should the Premier reach an agreement
with Sir James Craig within the next
two weeks there would still remain a
long series of discussions with the
Sinn Fein over the details of the settle?
ment. No serious complications are
likely to arise in future deliberations
between the government and the Sinn
Feiners unless Lloyd George recedes
from the position he took when he be?
gan negotiating with the Ulster Pre?
mier.
Compromise Scrutinized
Andrew Bonar Law, who has been
trying to serve as a mediator between
Lloyd George and Craig, ii3ay play a
more important part in the forthcoming
discussions. Under his plan Ulster
would enjoy powers under the home
rule act but could continue to send
representatives to Westminster instead'
of to Dublin. He would settle the re?
ligious deadlock by having a commis?
sion decide what parts of Tyrone and
Ferma3iagh should go to the south to
insure Catholic representation in the'
Dublin Parliament, and what new boun?
daries should be di'awn for Monaghan
and Donegal in order to give the Prot
(Contlnued on page six)
Princess Mary to Become Bride
Of Viscount Early in January
From The Tribune's European Bureau
Copyright, 1021, Now York Tribune Inc.
LONDON, Nov. 23.?Tho wedding of
Princess Mary to Viscount- Lascelles
will take place in Westminster Abbey
early in January, it is understood to?
day, and will not be postponed until
the retur? of the Prince of Wales
from hit visit to India and Japan. Thus
the romance, the announcement of
which took London completely by sur?
prise this morning, will be consum?
mated with the same rapidity with
which it grew.
News of the engagement has drawn
the praise of the press of all parties,
and the note is everywhere em?
phasized in the congratulations that
the princess has chosen a Briton in?
stead of a foreign prince.
For many months rumor has been
busy coupling the name of the prin?
cess with many prospective suitors,
but her acquaintance with the viscount !
dates back only a short time. Until
last spring the princess had only a
distant acquaintance with the vis?
count, and since then, while he has
accompanied her once or twice while
she was riding in London, their appear?
ance together has been more frequent
at country house parties and race
meets.
While the princess was in Scotland
last summer the viscount was the
guest of the King at Balmoral Castle,
and last week he was a member of the
King's shooting party at Sandringham,
where, according to well informed
sources, he made his proposal and was
accepted.
Princess Mary, by act of Parliament,
possesses a life income of $25,000 a
year. While Lascelles may gain
advancement to a peerage by his mar?
riage, neither he nor his heirs will
enjoy the title of royal highness,
since the council act of 1917 restricts
this tita to the sovereign's descend?
ants thjpugh the male line.
Tax Measure
Is Signed
By Harding
Approves Revenue Bill
After the Senate Accepts
Conference Report by
a Vote of 39 to 29
Expected to Raise
Over 3 Billions
Six Republicans Join Op?
position; Calder Asks
Inquiry by Commission
From The Tribune's Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, Nov. 23.?By a vote
of 39 to 29 the tax bill conference re?
port was passed by the Senate this
afternoon. Passage, of tho bill by Con?
gress was completed by thin action and
it was later signed by President Har?
ding, thus becoming a law. The Pres?
ident visited the Capitol at 4 o'clock to
sign this and other measures.
Except as otherwise specifically pro?
vided, the bill becomes effective at
once. Repeal of the excess profits tax
is effective January 1, 1922.
Six Republicans ? Senators Borah,
Ladd, La Follette, Moses, Norbeck and
Norris?voted against the bill. One
Democrat, Senator Broussand, of Louis?
iana, supported it. Otherwise party
lines were followed. A number of
Senators were absent and not paired
when the roll was called.
Though the Senate had agreed to
vote not later than 5 p. m., tho roll
was called at 3 o'clock. Desire of Sen?
ators to end tho session and to take
evening trains for their nomes hast?
ened the vote.
Raises 3 Billions, Says Penrose
The bill as agreed to will raise $3,
216,000,000 for the current fiscal year,
according to Senator Penrose, and will
meet the fiscal needs of the govern?
ment. This is disputed by critics of
the bill, who say it will produce a
deficit.
Much criticism was heaped on the
bill in the debate to-day. The Senate
met at 10 o'clock und, after taking con?
siderable time to get a quorum, entered
on the discussion. For more than four
hours there was speech-making, with
much criticism and little defense of
the bill. Senators Hitchcock, Simmons,
Walsh, of Massachusetts, and Jones, of
New Mexico, Democrats, were the chief
speakers in opposition to the confer?
ence report. Senator Smoot, though
opposing many features of the bill,
nevertheless upheld the conference re?
port and contended it^vould be unwise
and unfortunate, for the country to
defeat it.
Senator Calder. in a speech, con?
demned the bill as a "disappointment
to the people of this country." While
he vot?d for it, as did Senator Wads
worth, he at ou.e introduced a bill for
a tax investigation commission to make
a comprehensive investigation into tax
problems.
Assailed by Democrats
Senator Hitchcock charged that Sen?
ator Penrose, chairman of the Finance
Committee, had attempted "chiefly to
relieve from taxation the very high
profits of the most prosperous corpora?
tions." He further charged that the
policy of the bill was to take taxes off
great corporations and great individual
wealth and "unload it on the masses of
the people."
Senator Walsh, of Massachusetts,
condemned changes made in the bill in
secret meetings of the conferees.
"Even more than revolution-, such a
system is an invitation to Bolshevism,"
said Senator Walsh. He. declared the
conferees had deliberately thrown over?
board amendment:-, to improve the bill
put in by the efforts of the agricultural
"bloc" and the Democrats.
Senator Smoot said the bill contained
rates which were discriminatory and
could not be defended. He asserted the
50 per cent surtaxes would "drive the
men with great fortunes into the pur?
chase of tax-fr- e securities, just the
same as the 65 per cent rate."
Defeat Would Injure Business
Senator Smoot told the Senate that
he had telegraphed business men in
New York, Chicago and Boston to ascer?
tain what, in their opinion, would be
the. effect of defeating the pending bill.
Five out of six had taken the view it
would be indefensible to defeat the con?
ference report and leave business sus?
pended in the air, uncertain of what
was coming in the way of tax legisla?
tion. He made it clear he would vote
for the conference report not because
he liked the bill, but because he be?
lieved it better than the present law
and because he felt that the uncer?
tainty that would follow defeat, of the
measure would be hurtful and burden?
some.
Senator Caldcr's bill is one to create
(Continued on pa__ .ix)
Resignation of Curzon
Over Egypt Is Pretlicted
Lord Derby Regarded as Prob?
able Successor, if Foreign
Minister Quits
From The Tribune's European Bureau
Copyright, 1221, New York Tribun?? Inc.
LONDON, Nov. 23.?Lord Curzon
may soon resign the post of Foreign
Minister, according to to-day's issue
of ''The Evening News," on account of
what, the Northcliffe paper considers
the unsuccessful culmination of the
Egyptian negotiations and the situa?
tion in the Far East. The rumor is
unconfirmed in other quarters.
.un the event cf such a contingency,
however. Lord Derby, formerly Am?
bassador to France and- a stanch
Unionist, is regarded as a possible
successor.
Lord Curzor of Kedleston, who has
served as Secretary of State for For?
eign Affairs for the last two years, has
been twice married, both times to
American women. His fjtst wife was
Mary Victoria Leiter, daughter of L. Z.
Leiter, of Washington, whom he mar?
ried in 1895 and who died in 1908,
leaving three daughters. In 19i? he
married Grace Elvina, daughter of the
late J. Monroe Hinds, formerly United
States Ambassador to Brazil, and the
widow of Alfred Duggan, of Buenos
Ay res.
?i ?-m- . i
When you think of Writing,
think of Whiting. ?Advt.
French Plea for More Warships
Delays Agreement on Navies;
China Fights Foreign Control
Dr. Koo Claims Right to
Levy Tariff Up to 12fl/2
Per Cent, All Restric?
tions To Be Off Later
Issue Is Made on
Consortium Plan
Full Autonomy Based on
Open Door and Territo?
rial Integrity Demanded
By Thomas Steep
WASHINGTON, Nov. 23. ?Squarely
before the Washington conference dele?
gates there was laid to-day the ques?
tion whether the policies of the open
door and territorial Integrity for China
is to give her absolute sovereignty
or Is to result in a joint controL by
all the powers of her vital interests.
China, relying on the support of the
United States, emphasized her disap?
proval of any suggestion that the poli?
cies were to be construed otherwise
than literally.
Her protest emanated from the
Chinese delegates led by Dr. Alfred
Sze after the British delegates had
interpreted tho four basic principles
adopted by the conference committee
on Pacific and Far Eastern questions
for the settlement of China's ten de?
mands. The interpretation was that the
interests in China now controlled by
the powers severally shall hereafter be
controlled jointly "with equal oppoi
tunity for all nations."
Dr. Koo Makes Three Demands
China's demand for complete tariff
autonomy brought the different views
to light. Supporting her plea that she
be relieved of the 5 per cent limitation
which the powers since 1842 have fixed
as the maximum amount she may col?
lect on all imports, Dr. Wellington I?oo
outlined three steps which he_ said
would be essential to pave the way to
complete tariif autonomy. His pro?
posals were:
That beginning January 1, 1922,
China be permitted to increase the 5
per cent tariff limitation to 12Vi per
cent.
That as soon as practicable, or ac?
cording as China stabilizes her gov
erni3ient, now split into two republics,
she be permitted to fix her own tariff
l'ates under a maximum limit.
That at a later period she be given
her ancient rights of imposing im?
port and export duties without any
restriction whatever.
Under the four basic principles
framed by Elihu Root, on behalf of the
American delegation, and accepted by
Great Britain, France, Japan, Italy,
Belgium, Holland and Portugal, the
Chinela delegates contend thatf the
open door and territorial integrity
policies imply tariff autonomy.
Ivoans a Factor in Situation
Both the Chinese and British views
on the question of China's future were
expressed in the open coi3ferencea ar?
ranged for newspaper men. Great
Hritain's vfews was explained by the
spokesman for the delegation. He said
the Root principies implied the ac?
ceptance by China of the consortium
of banking groups of various countries,
which were arranging loans to China
on condition that the investments
were to be subject to administrative
control during the period of the loans.
In addition to the regulation of China's
customs duties, the principles also im?
plied, he said, a pooling of the railroad
concessions in China under an arrange
ment by which passenger and freight
i-ates would be made equable on all
reads. The British spokesman indi?
cated that a3-gument along thi3 line
was being presented before the com?
mittee.
"Would foreign control of her rail?
roads, her customs duties and her en?
terprises under the. consortium mean,
in effect, the internationalistn of
China?" the British spokesman was
asked.
"Nothing of the sort," he replied.
"It would mean simply that the rail
3-oads would be controlled in the in?
terest of China, that the banking
groups under the consortium would
have the right to see that the money
put up by them was not diverted to
purposes other than those for which
it was intended, and that the customs
would be controlled in the future as
now, with the exception that China
would be permitted to raise more
revenue."
News Amazes "Dr. Sze
When this information was placed be?
fore Dr. Sze, head of the Chinese dele?
gation, he expressed amazement that
such a plan had been thought of. His
opinion W33 that the Root principles
carried no such implication as China's
acceptance of the consortimn. He indi?
cated that the Chinese delegates were
prepared to insist before the conference
on a literal application of the open
door and territorial integrity policies
(Continued on next page)
End of British-Japanese
Pact Demanded in House
Resolution Calls for Tie-Up or
Limitation Agreement Till
Treaty Is Abrogated
WASHINGTON, Nov. 23 (By the As
sociatod Press).?A resolution provid
? ing that the United States shall no
enter into a final agreement relativ?
j to limitation of naval armaments unti
1 the Anglo-Japanese Treaty of 1911 i;
; abrogated or "without a definite under
. standing of its immediate abrogation,'
i was introduced to-day by Representa
' tive Tinkham, Republican, of Massa
'? chusetts.
! The resolution characterizes th?
! treaty as a military alliance, offetisiyi
: and defensive between Great Britaii
and Japan and "in conflict with thi
? ei3tire spirit" of the American proposa
i made at the opening session of th
! arms conference for a reductioa o
I naval armaments and a t?n-year nava
holiday.
Japan Holds 21 Demands Are Valid*
But Might Consider Amendments
WASHINGTON, Nov. 23 (By The Associated Press).?Any at?
tempt at the Washington conference to attack the validity of Japan's
1915 treaty with China, often called the Twenty-one Demands, would
be opposed by Japan, it was said to-day in responsible, circles, but Japan
would not oppose an examination of the treaty, which would be based
on allegations that the agreement is in conflict with the principle of
the open door or equal opportunity in China.
In other words, it was intimated that Japan would be ready to
discuss any charge that the equal rights of other nationals were being
interfered with under the 1915 agreement.
Naval Holiday
Basis of Berlin
Plea for Loans
Germany Believes Arms Con?
ference Gives Her Chance
to Borrow Funds Not Re?
quired to Build Warships
Stinnes Mission Discussed
He Will Tell Lloyd George
of Plan for International
Trust to Exploii Russia
By Joseph Shaplen
By Wireless to The Tribun?
Copyright, 1921, New York Tribune Inc.
BERLIN, Nov. 23.?Germany is con?
ducting negotiations with financiers in
America and England toward obtaining
long-term loans in case the Washington
Conference on the Limitation of Arma?
ment puts in effect the proposals of
Secretary Hughes for naval reductions.
Chancellor Wrrth made this announce?
ment to-day to the Finance Committee
of the Reichstag, and coupled with it
the assertion that Germany's financial
future depended on the conference.
The Chancellor said that with the
scrapping of parts of their fleets and
the proposed naval holiday the bank?
ers of the governments affected would
be in a position to apply part of the
sums so saved to long-term loans, and
with this end in view negotiations had
been opened in New York and London.
He said that only long-term loans
would be of any use, since the short
term loans served merely to aggravate
the financial situation, as shown in the
case of the money obtained by Ger?
many to help cover the last reparations
payments.
The Chancellor denied that Hugo
Stinnes, the industria"; magnat?*, was
in London on the government's instruc?
tions, but said Stinnes had informed
the government of his proposed visit.
There appears to be no doubt, however,
that one of the main objects of
Stinnes's trip was to present to Pre?
mier Lloyd George a plan for the de?
velopment of an economic understand?
ing between England and Germany in
Russia.
This plan carried the governn3ent's
approval and is announced to-day in
the "Berliner Tageblatt," which gives
it strong support. Part of the plan
consists in the Allies diverting a por?
tion of Germany's reparations pay?
ments to Russia in the form of in?
vestments and credits with the Soviet
government. It is held that this would
stimulate Russia's economic revival
and open Russian markets for the
Allies as well as for Germany, thus
mitigating the effects of the industrial
crisis in the Allied countries, which is
seriously aggravated by the heavy ex?
ports of German goods in Germany's
efforts to meet the reparations pro?
gram.
Stinnes's plan, in brief, consists in
establishing a gigantic international
trust for the exploitation of Russia.
Flying Auto Demonstrated
French Invention Operates on
Land and in Air
PARIS, Nov. 23.?A flying automobile
is the latest development in the French
aero world.
A successful demonstration of an
ordinary automobile with folding
wings, two engines, one of ten horse?
power for land going and-the other of
300 horsepower for air travel, was held
at Buc, Seine-et-Oise. The machine
performed all the usual feats of an
airplane and also of an automobile.
Briand Confers
With Harding:
Repeats Appeal
"I Have Finished," He De
clares, Puffing at a Cigar
ette Furiously as Hour
Long Interview Ends
Arms Committee Meets
Poison Gas, Aircraft and
Rules of Warfare Are Re?
ferred to Sub-Divisions
By Boyden Sparkes
WASHINGTON, Nov. 23. ? Aristide
Briand again to-day defended the atti?
tude of France with respect to land
armament. This was when he made his
final appearance before the delegates
to the conference. Afterward he went
to pay his respects to President Har?
ding.
That interview between the responsi?
ble head of the French government and
the President of the United States
dealt with more than merely formal
goodbys. Ambassador Jusserand ac?
companied his chief into the Presi?
dent's offices. The Frenchmen remained
there for an hour.
When the door was opened at the
end of this interview M. Briand moved
so swiftly down the corridor that Am?
bassador Jusserand was left well in the
rear. Briand puffed furiously at a
cigarette and as he climbed into his
automobile he said, with emphasis:
"I have finished."
Repeats Security Plea
It was explained that M. Briand had
taken up with President Harding a
number of questions concerning the
conference and that once more he had
endeavored to make clear that France,
in retaining an enormous land force,
was actuated only by the idea of self
defense.
"It is merely security that we ask,"
said M. Briand.
The following official report of Pre?
mier Briand's speech at the meeting
of the .Committee on Limitation of
Armament was issued to-night:
"M. Briand asks the floor in order to
express his keen regret at being forced
to give up his collaboration in the work
of the conference, as this day is the
last one that he is spending in Wash?
ington. He considers it one of the
greatest honors of his political life to
have been able to participate, even for
a time, in the work of the conference,
following the noblf, generous and cour?
ageous initiative taken by the Ameri?
can government.
Sees Step Toward Peace
"He wishes to say once moro some?
thing which he was unable to express
at the last plenary session with all the
emotion which ho felt; how deep was
his gratitude to his colleagues for the
words spoken by them and addressed
to France. It is certain that the ex?
change of friendly declarations which
has taken place before the whole world
has enabled Europe to take a groat
step forward on the road to peace; it
has, in fact, brought about thaf moral
situation without the existence of
which it would have been hard, in?
deed, to reach a positive result. No
longer will any one be able to say
that the armaments of France mask
offensive intentions.
"Speaking frankly, it was practically
a necessity for France that these words
be uttered; she has been so sharply at?
tacked; she has been credited with so
many hidden motives, that, in foreign
lands, some have ventured to doubt
her real purposes. To-morrow?and
(Continued on next page)
Quite Satisfied, Briand Says
As He Prepares to Depart
WASHINGTON, Nov. 23 (By The
Associated Press).?Premier Briand of
France said to-night he was leaving
Washington "quite satisfied with the
results, of the conference so far, and
especially as respects France."
"I rest the case of France, in so far
as land forces are concerned," ho
added, "on the warm, friendly, com?
prehending declarations of the heads
of the various delegations on Monday.
I am satisfied."
Asked if he expected the conference
to adopt a declaration with respect to
the French army, he said:
"I do not know. It may be. that to?
ward the end of the conference some?
thing of the sort may be done, but
I am not asking anything. I am con?
tent with what took place Monday."
Continuing his discussion, M. Briand
said:
"Our friends in treating the question
of naval armaments, being in complete
j peace, decide to decrease their fleets
by 30 or 40 per cent We, in the pres?
ence of an enemy, Germany?1 may say,
two enemies, for there is Russia- have
already reduced our army 33 1-3 per
cent, and we propose still, mind you, in
the presence of an enemy, to reduce
our army by 50 per cent."
Some mention was made of the
British position toward France in the
matter of equal strength of submarines,
and the Prime Minister said:
"I do not understand the English
i position. We take no objection to
; their capital ships, which are for of
I fense. Why should the English be
i opposed to our having submarines
: which are for defense?"
"A conference is much better than a
war," M. Briand continued, "? believe
! in conferences. I think that when men
' directing governments can come to
I gether for such an exchange of ideas
! and views as we have been having in
! Washington we are doing something
! infinitely better than sending tele
j grams and notes to one another."
A sculptor showed the Premier to
i ward the end of hia reception of corre?
spondents a statuette of himself mod
; eled in c!ay. "Don't meke mo look like
! Clemenceau!" he exclaimed, taking note
! of the heavy mustache on the figure.
k
Unexpected Demand Is
Regarded as Menace to
Naval Holiday ; Italy
Also Wants Bigger Fleet
British Delegates
Refuse to Consent
Smoldering Antagonism
I Reawakened ; U. S. Seeks
i to Modify Briand's View
By Carter Field
WASHINGTON, Nov. 23.?Pre?
mier Briand- to-day assured the Con?
ference for the Limitation of Arma?
ment, in a farewell address to a
group of the delegates, that France
would curtail the period of service
of each French soldier, thus materi?
ally reducing the size of the French
army. Immediately before this talk
? he took final action in pigeonholing
the question of land armament limi?
tation.
Meanwhile, however, there is great
agitation among the British and
concern in the other delegations over
the desire of the French to be grant?
ed a ratio of naval strength equal to
that of Japan. Taken in conjunction
with the desire of the Italians for a
navy equal to that of any Mediterra?
nean power, or, in short, equal to
that of France, the move is regard?
ed in both British and American
quarters as a considerable menace to
the naval holiday idea.
Japan Previously thief Obstacle
The Americans have concentrated
most of their fire, as have the British,
on the desire of the Japanese to retain
the battleship Mutsu, which would so
I disturb the ratio laid down by Chair
, man Hughe3 as the American plan that
? it would result in the United Stair*
j completing and retaining the Colorad?,
j with perhaps the Washington, and the
' British building one or two of the haft
Hoods which aie authorized but which
have not had their keels laid.
All of which is of more concern hero
in Washington to-night than the dit*
eussions over China, which, now that
the general principles have been Iai?r
down, aro becoming highly involved
and technical. The question of th?
consortium, for instance, which was
discussed at length to-day, is really a
I question of which country's bankers
j shall control the development of new
i railroads and other concession! in
; China, or whether groups of bankers
in each country, approve?! by the go? ?
? ernments of those countries, shall <le
? velop the concession?, jointly.
China is terribly opposed to the con
| sortuim idea, but apparently every or.*
else is convinced that this is tb? way
to bring order out of rhaos ?rt the
Celestial Empire and at the ?mo timo
prevent any one countrj from obtain?
ing too much political, as well a_
finaneial, domination.
Program Regarded as lived
Then on the reference to committee?!
j of such questions as airplanes and
| how they are to be used, poison gasei
I and "appropriate rules tor the conduct
: of war," the interest is more or le?)
perfunctory. The truth is that a!! thi
delegates have already made up the?i
minds pretty well that this conference
is going to do two big things. Th?
first of these is a real limitation ,-.
naval armaments, with the big, expen
j sivo ship recognizi d ?nit f?r
| limitation. The second Is an aigre?
ment on all the Pacific and Fp.r East
j ern questions, which will be eminent!'
i practical in that it will remove a'
j possibility of a war between Japan an?
I the United States growing iu( - * s?
! disputes, but which may be far froB
I ideal if viewed purely Irom the inter
? ests, for example, of tho ChiseM.
! The Chinese, in the opinion of tbri
?delegates of all the other countri???
will benefit from whatever may be th'
i final outcome of these decisions 01
Pacific and Far Eastern questions, bit
! there is also no doubt that they wouh
; draft the derisions wry differently i
j they had the opportunity of writini
them themselv3s.
i The French naval aspirations itr
i looked upon as of tremendous imp?t
I tance because they are regarded s
| threatening i]-e whole spirit of th
i naval armament limitation plan lai
?down by Mr. ETttghes. At the time o
: the writing of the American plan; a
? a matter of fact, no thought was give
| to the French navy, nor to the Italial
i navv.
New Complication Unexpected
France and Italy were invited to thf)
Conference on the Limitation o? Ar?
mament for two reason;:. Orre was thnt
they, with Great Britain, th? 1 nited
States and Japan, constituted th?) Ato
principal "'Allied and associat?sd pov.
ers" of the World War and of the Su?
preme Council. T\" second was that
?France and Italy s. regarded as
? great military nations, even though
their navies had dropped back out of
[ the armament rae*.
But the American plan for lim?tle-j?;
the navies was applied only to th?
three most important naval powers-?
Great Britain, the United States and
Japan. When the French and Italisn
delegations arrived in Washington they
began talking of navies and of ei
trol of the Mediterranean. This wn?
regarded with only mild interest, at
first, some of che American writers re?
ferring to this contest a-- tire "minor
league" naval armament race.
N'ow. however, it is rather definitely
understood that the French wish m
i soon as they are able financially to be
j gin the construction of a fleet equal to
! that of Jipan. The Italians make tin
J reference to Japan, but they make it
very clear that they expect to have
a navy equal to that of France.
British Delegates Shocked
America probably would not be cou?
cerned about this were it not lor th?
attitude on the subject' of the British
delegation. The British ar? very much