The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-12-07
SEEK SUBSTITUTE
FOR ALLIANCE Of
ENGLISH AND JAPS
Both Parties Wish to Include
the u. S. in Agreement.
American Delegates
Silent on Subject
BY Associated Press

Washington, December 6.-The
effort to find an acceptable substi-
tute for the Anglo-Japanese alli-
ance has so diverted the attention
of many of the arms delegates as to
throw even the question of the naval
ratio temporarily into the back
ground.
Both the Japanese and the
British have shown n desire to
include the United States In any
entente that may replace the al
hRnce, and tentative treaty
DRIFT under consideration by
some of the governments con-
cerned would provide for
auadrupie arrangement. also In
Guiding France.
What may have been the attitude
of the American delegates in the
behind-the-s developments hav-
ing to do with the proposal remains
a mystery Taking the position that
no entente suggestion is formally"
before them. the American represent
tatives steadfastly refuse to discuss
In any way the possibility of Amer
lean participation in political agree
ment regarding the far east
In the absence of an authoritative
explanation of the American View
point, the impression is gained 81
the delegates of other powers
the American pleni eotentiaries Hrs
feeling their way very cautiously
hax 70 t.,g..
would be in accord with Ameri
official and public opinion.
Recognize Senate
Recognizing the Senate's claim
partnership in the shaping OF infeHz
national agreements, Secret ~
Hughes and his colleagues are s7tld
to be Boilcitous that the sentiment
of the treaty ratifying branches Sc
the government as we'll as that q
the executive shall be taken into &C.
count. How an accurate canvass
Senate opinion could be made in he
midst OF the negotiations, howe 81
presents still another puzzle. IS
"gentlemen's agreement" or "un6
standing" If that diplomatic inst
ment were used in the place
treaty. would not require Sen
confirmation. but President Hard Is.
and other officials of his admiis-
tration have Indicated repeate
that tnes do NOT propose to take st
which senators might regard as
noring the Senate's claim to partici-
pate in international policies.
All of these consIde rntlons
being weighed carefully by the
foreign delegates, who desire TO
have the United States n party
of the next far eastern concert
of nations. There have been in
dfcations that the other powers
concerned would prefer that the
agreement be put into the form
of a treaty, but II remains to be
seen how far they will press the
suggestion when they understand
fully the American constitutional
system.
Meantime, some clue to help solve
the riddle may be given in the near
future by the Senate itself. Specu-
lation as to what course the negotia-
tons may take is growing among
senator's as they come together for
the new session. and several have in
Dictated that they might seek In
Senate debate to bring the question
of an entente more conspicuously be-
fore the public.
Naval Discussion
While this phase of the Washington
conference is developing. the naval
ratio negotiations still are at
standstill, while the Japanese dele
gates wait for word from Toxic. II
may be several days before they arc
In position to resume the naval
discussions The fun committee OF
the whole of the far east will meet
again tomorrow, however, after a re-
cess Of five days and will proceed
with its discussions of Chinese prob
lens.
In the five days interim closing
tonight the formal activities of the
conference have been confined to
meetings of the subcommittee on
draft of resolutions, and to CONVEX
sations of the Japanese and Chinese
regarding Shantung Both the draft
committee and the Shantung group
met today, but neither reported ma
terfal progress