New-York tribune., 1921-12-05
Japan Favors
4-POwer Pact
For Far East
Extension of Chinese Con-
sortium or Development
of Understanding Among
Nations Urged by Nippon
Along Harding's Plan
Would Provide Settlement
of Serious Disputes at
Conciliatory Conferences

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 (By The AS
sociated Press).-Extensio of the
Chinese consortium, or its development
into more comprehensive agreement,
was suggested tonight by unofficial
Japanese as a suitable and practicable
substitute for the Anglo-Japanese al
lance. Mutual abrogation of that con-
vention by Japan and Great Britain is
viewed as one of the possibilities of the
present conference.
AS put forward to-day, the sugges-
tion was that the consortium be de-
veloped or merged into general politi-
cal agreement among the four or five
great powers. The idea was based, it's
proponents explained, on the conten-
tion that any definite political agree
, ment as to the Far East, including
especially China, must in the period of
world reconstruction give way to or be
built upon economic essentials.
Comedies With Harding Idea
In other words, it is contended that
keen economic rivalries affect political
stability and are liable to create fric-
tion and serious disputes, necessitati ting
conciliatory conferences from time to
time Of the contending parties. This,
it is pointed out, comedies with Presi-
| dent Harding's suggestion for con-
tinued conferences and might form the
basis of a practical international un-
derstanding.
The Chinese four-power consortium
of October Is, 1920, specifically de-
clares that the national groups COM
posing it believe that the interests of
the Chinese people can best be served
by cooperative action in procuring for
the Chinese government the capital
necessary for a program of economic
reconstruction and improved communi-
| cations. 1t is remarked that a par
| ticular political Importance attaches
to the agreement because the powers
were able to make fairly definite ar
rangements with japan concerning the
| so-called special interests of Japan in
/ southern Manchuria and eastern inner
! Mongolia.
Safeguard Japan's Interests
1t was understood at the time that
frank exchanges led to full apprecia-
tion by the American, British and
! French governments of Japan's pur-
pose in merely having guaranty of
the security of her national defense
and her economic existence. The
Japanese government issued an an
nouncement that the above govern
ments expressly declared that they not
only contemplated no activities mimi
cal to the vital interests of Japan, but
| that they were ready to give general
assurance which would be deemed suf-
ficient to safeguard those interests.
The Chinese consortium has not yet
been accepted by China, and it has mo-
yet operated.
British View of Alliance
The British position as to the al
lance was to-day summed up by Brit
ish correspondents as emphasizing tina
England has no wish to desert an all,
who so gallantly supported her in war
time, but that in considering the ques
tion of renewing the alliance she ha
to bear in mind strong antipathies il
the United States, as we'll as in certain
British dominions. Therefore, it wa
said it might be presumed that Grea
Britain was seeking some form 0
modified agreement or treaty whereof,
the alliance itself might be abrogate
with substitute in the form OF an un
ldersfanding, perhaps assuring Japan
national integrity by the threespower
--or with France-the four big swer:
This would take in the powers nakin
up the financial corsortium.