FOUR-POWER TREATY.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 December 1921, Page 5

FOUR-POWER TREATY.

ITS USE IF. WAR STARTS. SOME FEARS DISPELLED, NO REAL ALLIANCE. By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright, Received Dec. 18, 5.5 p.m. Washington, Dec. 16. Quite a little storm has been raised in the American Press over the implications and extent of the Four Power Treaty. It began by one enterprising journalist pointing out that it is obvious that the islands of Japan proper came within the purview of the provisions of the treaty, and from this the deduction was drawn that the Unied States was bound to come to the assistance of Japan if attacked by any other Power. Thus the treaty became an entangling alliance and anathema to good Republicans. Moreover, it conceded to Japan what the United States had denied t-o France when she refused to undertake to give her support if again attacked by a European Power.

The deduction is certainly founded on most insignificant promises, but they are enough to stir up all the turmoil of domestic politics which surged round the discussion of the Versailles Treaty. The American spokesman was bombarded with questions to-day. He said the State Department explained that anything involving the islands of Japan affected the Japanese people, especially the interests concerned, and necessitated the inclusion of Japan’s home land, just as it included Australia and New Zealand if the outlying islands were attacked. It meant really that Japan herself was attacked; there was no distinction. Presidential interpretations were also invoked "and White House explained “once for all” that nothing in the quadrilateral agreement requires one nation to enter armed activity in response to the decision of the three others.

Even the Anglo-Japanese alliance is dragged into the controversy, it being stated that the fact is incontestable that Japanese diplomats regarded the Four Power Treaty as a substitute for that alliance. M. Harihari (Japan) found it necessary to deny this, pointing out that the text of the two documents were very unlike each other.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.