PEACE IN PACIFIC.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 December 1921, Page 7

PEACE IN PACIFIC.

FOUR-POWER TREATY. A NEW ERA OPENS. TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT. VIEWS OF THE NATIONS. (From the Special Representative of the (Australian Press Association.) Washington, Dec. 10. To-day’s session was one succession of climaxes and anti-climaxes. Rouhd announcements of tremendous import, that the four major Powers of the earth had agreed on a treaty with a view to the maintenance of peace in the insular possessions of the Pacific, were grouped incidents that at one time suggested an ordinary business meeting and another the reading of high school essays.

Mr. Hughes opened the proceedings in a colorless, chairman-like manner amid strained expectancy, merely announcing that the minutes of the previous meeting would be taken as read. He then reviewed the work of the Conference in a plain, matter-of-fact statement. His remar*ks were punctuated with applause. ' A charter to China was promised, which he hoped would eventually leave her in the position of a world Power. Following that came the moment for which all were waiting. Mr. Hughes called on Senator Lodge, presumably indicating that he, as leader of the majority party in the Senate, stood there as a guarantee that the treaty would be ratified by that body. Senator Lodge began by reading measuredly the simple words of the treaty that makes changes, in the whole political face of the Pacific. The representatives of Australia and New Zealand will sign that treaty Which to them means so much.

With the accomplished fact before the audience attention went to Senator Lodge, who read on, a gentle figure, speaking in graceful words with studied literary allusions and geographical facts, but lifted his peroration to a high oratorical plane. RIGHTS OF CHINA.

M. Viviani’s rhetorical French, which showed a plenitude pf emotion and gesture, Mr. Balfour’s polished periods, Baron Tohugawa’s straightforward sentences, which were applauded greatly, as though the American audience felt it was welcoming a new friend, rounded off the morning with the courteous compliments of other nations. Mr. Hughes, in his opening speech, reviewed the work of the committee on the Pacific and the Far East. China had been the first consideration both in safeguarding her sovereignty and affording equal opportunity to all th® Powers in China.

The Conference then formally adopted the Root resolution, upon Mr. Hughes’ ! request, and a resolution appointing a ! committee which will, three months af- • ter the end of the Conference, start an investigation regarding the Chinese judicial system and extra territoriality, and, within a year thereafter, report whether the Powers can accept or reject them. He pointed out that China had expressed satisfaction with the provisions. The Conference also adopted China’s proposal No. 3 dealing with neutrality. Mr. Hughes asked for, and received the Conference’s adoption of Chinas proposal No. 5, by resolution, providing that the Powers do not intend to enter into any treaty or understanding which would infringe China’s rights. Mr. Hughes concluded by saying that other matters in regard to China were being discussed by the committee. He. hoped that the resolutions which would be ultimately adopted would be acceptable to China and the other Powers.

Mr. Hughes also expressed the hope that the work already done might lead finally to the adoption of an agreement among the participant Powers, and any others that wanted to join to deal generally with policies in the Far East and the territorial status in China of the countries concerned. He then called on Senator .Lodge to make the announcement. TERMS OF THE TREATY. Senator Lodge began by referring to the treaty in words, brief and simple but full of meaning and importance the world’s peace. The wording of (he treaty is as follows: —

The United States, British Empire, France and Japark with a view to the preservation of general peace and the maintenance of their rights in relation to insular possessions and insular Dominions in the region of the Pacific Ocean, have determined to conclude a treaty. To this effect they have appointed plenipotentiaries on behalf of the President of the United States; his Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the seas, Emperor of India and (blank names) for the Dominions of Canada, the Commonwealth of Australia, the Dominion of New Zealand and India; the President of the French Republic; his Majesty the Emperor of Japan, who. having communicated their full powers in sound, good and true form, have agreed as follows: Clause I.—The high contracting parties agree as between themselves to respect the rights in relation to their insular possessions and insular Dominions in the region of the Pacific Ocean, of which should there develop between any of the high contracting parties controversy arising out .of any Pacific question involving the said rights, which is not satisfactorily settled by diplomacy and is likely to affect the harmonious accord now happily subsisting between them, they shall invite the ether high contracting parties to join a conference to which the whole sub-, ject will be referred for consideration and adjustment. Clause 2.—lf the said rights are threatened by the aggressive action of any other Power the high contracting parties shall communicate with one another fully and frankly in order to

arrive at an understanding as to the best effective means to be taken jointly or separately to meet the exigencies of the particular situation. Clause 3. —This agreement wi|l remain in force for ten years’ time after it takes effect, and, after the expiration of the said period, shall continue in •force subject to the rights of any of the high contracting Powers to terminate it upon twelve months’ notice. Clause 4.—The agreement shall be ratified as soon as possible in accordance with the constitutional methods of the high contracting parties and shall take effect on the deposit of rati.•Winna, which »hall take place in

'Washington, and thereupon the agreement between Great Britain and Japan, which was concluded in London on July 13, 191.1, shall terminate. STATUS OF YAP. Senator Lodge, continuing, pointed out- that the treaty on . the part oi the United States is subject to the convention with Japan concerning the status of Yap and what is termed the mandate islands in the Pacific north of the Equator, negotiations which are almost concluded, and also reservations respecting the mandated islands south of the Equator. -He also observed that uie controversies to which the treaty refers do not -embrace questions lying exclusively within the domestic jurisdiction of the respective Powers. Senator Lodge concluded: “We rely op the nations’ good faith to carry out the terms of tne treatly. There is no provision for the use of force in this agreement in regard to the carrying out o-f the terms thereof and no military or naval sanction lurks anywhere in the background or under cover of these plain, direct clauses. M. Viviani eloquently endorsed the new treaty on the part of France. He pointed out (hat France had always lived up to the spirit of any arrangement which relied oh honorable abiding by similar understandings. He drew attention to France’s great desire for the peace and tranquility of the world just as she strove for the same in Europe.

“Gentlemen, we must not forget Europe, with its new nations nascent since the war. We must not expect immediate tranquility, which will come omy after real peace has been established.” M. Viviani concluded: “France will gladly live up to every dictate of the world conscience.” MR. BALFOUR SPEAKS. Mr. Balfour said: “I merely rise to say something respecting one clause of the treaty under which Britain and Japan have an immediate interest, nut which touches all the world. All will notice that, after the ratification of the treaty, the Japanese -British Alliance will be ended. I am perfectly aware that the alliance has caused much searching of heart, suspicious and animadversions in important sections of the United States opinion. Nothing has been further from the minds of the framers of the alliance than that it would effect anything, whether good or bad, concerning the United States. There recently arose a state of tension in regard to the Pacific. Critics said “Why this alliance?” What are the interests behind it?”

It was originally framed as a safeguard against the oppression of Russia and Germany in the Far East. The German and Russian perils no longer existed, but it must be remembered that the alliance, which did. not need to be j enewed, ran until denounced. Its objects no longer existed, but the alliance and its predecessors had. been existing for nearly twenty years, and had served the great purpose o-f the two Governments in two wars and had stood the strains of common trials, anxieties and troubles of the two nations, and so bound them that they could not part like railway travellers. Something more ' united them. The breaking of the aili- ' ance would lead to misunderstanding in one nation, as its retention would lead to misunderstanding in another. Britain had long come to the conclusion that there .remained only one way, namely that she should annul the ancient, worn-out agreement, and replace it by something new, embracing the interested Powers, The solution gave him personal satisfaction, which it was impossible to express. He happened to be the head of the administration which concluded the first Japanese alliance and that arrived at* the Entente with France. He had been a life-long advocate of closer union between the two branches of the English-speaking races. ('Prolonged applause).

He believed the treaty would ensure peace for all time in the Pacific. Nothing was better calculated to assist the diminution in naval armaments, which he hoped would be one of the greatest triumphs of the Conference. 1 Baron Tokugawa said that it was needless to say Japan would approve the consummation of the treaty and rejoice in the pledges regarding peace in the Pacific. He associated himself with Mr. Balfour’s words regarding the glorious service done by the Anglo-Japanese alliance towards the preservation of peace. He anticipated that the treaty would be supplemented by a further convention of all the Powers, including China, for adjusting conditions in the Far East, which was satisfactory to all. MM. Sehanzer, Karnebeek, and Dalte all spoke briefly, expressing satisfaction regarding the new treaty and promising the full co-operation of their countries. Mr. Hughes concluded by stating: “Wo are dealing with h simple paper. Great things are simple. I firmly believe when this agreement takes effect it will go further towards securing lasting peace than anything which has been done before. The committees will resume their labors and endeavor to settle other questions to assure the tranquillity and assurance of our fair interests.” WSITTON OF AUSTRALIA. The Australian Press Association representative at the Washington Conference says that Australia, at the inception of the Anglo-Japanese Treaty, regarded the new pact between white and brown somewhat askance, only to find as the years went on Japan paid scrupulous observance to the obligations thereunder. She is vitally interested in any arrangement designed to supersede it and the progressive steps leading to the revolution of the substitutionary plan. It may be said at the outset that, whatever the ultimate consequences to Australia as a unit of the Empire may be, the whole trend of the quadruple agreement is to ensure the Pacific being true to its name. Indeed, the keynote of this latest international device is safety first. The object of the quadrilateral agreement is, briefly, to ensure that the signatories agree not to submit to’ the arbitration on any question relating to their territories in the Pacific. A vital issue which arose early in the negotiations, while yet they were concerned with Britain, Japan and America, was whether the United States Senate, always jealous of its prerogative in the matter of ratifying treaties, should be afforded an opportunity to express itself on the agreement. As the plans ripened which eventually led to the inclusion of France it became clear that it would, but the world has not forgotten how the Senate handled the Versailles Treaty after President Wilson had secured what was regarded as a practicable compromise. A "question insistent in the minds of those apprehensive of a similar experience with the quadrilaterial agreement was that fbr the sake of America’s reputation with other Powers it must not meet such a fate. However. Pres.dont Harding’s advisers consider that American opinion so strongly supports

the attitude of the American delegation at the Conference that there is no danger of it not being ratified by the Senate. AMERICAN VIEWPOINT. ; As Mr. David Lawrence, a noted authority, points out, the new treaty does not include entanglements or guarantees, although it limits the light of Congress to declare war, but the Senate has endorsed the principle or investigation for arbitration in # thirty existing treaties, so that the procedure planned has ample precedent. It is worth noting that the abrogation of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance has been regarded by America from the very beginning as fundamental, that a quadrilateral, rather than a triple agreement, will take its place has also commended itself to the United States since it has ensured a balance of power, preferable to a situation in which America might run the risk of being in a' minority of one or two. Italy has watched the progress of the negotiations with keen interest, but has made it clear that she is not desirous to participate, so long as Pacific territories only, not international principles, are affected. China’s effort to secure the privilege of being consulted in any agreement concerning the general peace of the Pacific was foredoomed to failure, as was made clear when the resolutions safeguarding China’s sovereignty in her own territory were carried. To sum up, Australia need have no fear that she will be placed in a disadvantageous position as the result of the latest diplomatic orientation in the Pacific, inasmuch as there are now four Powers with the single aim of assuring peace in that ocean, three of which re-, present white races. SPEAKER FOR NEW ZEALAND.

•Sir John Salmond associated himself with Mr. Pearce in expressing gratitude to Mr. Balfour. He was satisfied that the provisions of the treaty represented the only satisfactory method of overcoming the difficulties involved in the existence of the Anglo-Japanese Treaty, which had outlived the conditions to which it owed its origin and become a source of some suspicion and misunderstanding, yet could not be properly abandoned without providing an efficient substitute. The Australasian Dominions should be satisfied that the alliance, instead of being destroyed, had been merged into a more comprehensive contract of harmony and goodwill g.mong nations with interests in the Pacific. The treaty was a solemn ■pledge that theSe Powers intended in all loyal fidelity to solve by peaceful methods the international problems in the Pacific. The reserved questions regarding mandated territories were of quite subordinate importance and no difficulties were apparent therein >so far as Australia and New Zealand were concerned. GENERAL DISCUSSIONS. SENATE WILL PASS TREATY. Washington, Dec. 10. The British spokesman referred confidently to-day to the prospect of an early and highly successful termination of the Conference. A favorable reply is expected from Tokio very shortly regarding the naval ratio, after which the nav-al holiday question will -be taken up, also that of submarines, finisiflng •with questions affecting China. \ x The American spokesman, replying to-day to a suggestion that the new treaty was merely an emasculated article 10 of the League of Nations, pointed out that the latter provided specially that the nations should underake to respect and preserve each other’s rights. The present treaty did not mention the word preserve and thus happily overcame American objections to article 10.

It can be confidently predicted that Japan will meet China’s wishes regarding the Shantung railway, stipulating for certain reimbursements. A preliminary canvass of Senate opinion to-night indicates an estimated vote of 84 (64 being the necessary majority) of both Republicans and Democrats have declared themselves favorable. The irreconcilables made no comment, except that Senator Reed called the treaty unspeakable, and Senator Watson prophesied the downfall of the Harding administration. Ratification is considered certain on the theory that Senator Underwood can swing enough support from the Democrats to swamp any opposition, even although President Wilson might say hands off’ on the theory of its partial back down from the League of Nations, though this is considered most unlikely. It is suggested here that Mr. Lloyd George and M. Briand are discussing the naval ratio in London with a view to reconciling the French and English estimate of France’s navy. The former wants many capital ships, and .Tapan wants submarine tonnage larger than England expected. However, the French will give adhesion to the flve-five-four pact, with France and Italy about half the strength of Japan. AUSTRALIAN COMMENT. Sydney, Dec. 12. The Herald, in a leader, stated: .£The Pacific treaty is an expansion of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance into a nobler and grander understanding. It depeds on honest dealing, not on the strength of arms. The surmounting of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance difficulties is a masterpiece of political strategy.” Respecting the treaty’s reservation regarding Nauru and the complaint that the Versailles Treaty excludes American enterprise from copra and phosphate trading, the Herald adds: “So far as the Australian islands are' concerned ,local planters will welcome both American shipping and the participation of American capital, y There is room for both without unfairness to Australian interests. It is probable Australia will soon advertise in Britain and 'America for capital to develop her tropical possessions. The Commonwealth will noi in future be allowed to absorb the produce of mandated islands under restricted trading regulations nor will Rabaul cargoes come to Sydney without outside competition having been met. There is nothing in the mandate to bolster up such a wartime monopoly.”