NEW TREATIES.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 January 1922, Page 5

NEW TREATIES.

AGREEMENT FOR PEACE. ACTION IN CASE OF WAR. IMPORTANT PROVISION. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Jan. 22, 11.5 p.m. Washington, Jan. 21. The Four-Power Pacific Treaty, the Five-Power Naval Limitation Treaty, the Nine-Power Far Eastern Treaty and other agreements at the Armament Conference will be bound together in a single protocol for submission to the Senate and other world ratifying bodies. A correspondent obtained the text of the clause outlining the Powers’ actions in the event of war. It declares: “If, during the term of the present treaty, the requirements of the national security of any contracting Power in respect to naval defence should be materially affected by a change of circumstances the contracting Powers will, at such Power’s request, meet to reconsider the treaty provisions and its amendment by mutual agreement. In view of possible technical and scientific developments the United States shall call a conference as soon as possible at the expiration of eight years from the date of the present treaty’s effectiveness to consider what changes are necessary to meet developments. When any contracting Power is engaged in war affecting naval defence that Power, after notifying the other contracting Powers, will suspend its obligations under the present treaty for the period of hostilities, provided the emergency requires such suspension, the remaining Powers to be consulted to decide temporary treaty modifications.”

Article nineteen of the naval treaty, dealing with fortifications, is still unsettled. Some delegates informally suggest that it will be dropped altogether, and either attached to the Four-Power Pact or embodied in a separate convention. The conference leaders assume, however, that the provision will remain in the naval treaty and a new phrasing of the article is being worked out during the week-end in the light of fresh instructions from Tokio.