Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-17
FOUR-POWER PACT
''PROTECTS" Japan
Home Islands of Mikado Re-
ceive Same Assurances as
Minor Possessions
TALKING POINT FOR BORAH
by CLINTON w. GILBERT

stan CORRESPONDENT Evening Public LEDGER
Oopprfoht. 1921. BY Public Lcd1cr Company
washington. Der. 1T.-Thc Hughes
announcement of the agreement on the
naval ratio blanEetcd the ono sensation
or the Conference, the news that the
nome islands OF Jaran were included in
uhe provisions of the four Power pact
receiving the same assurances as the
minor possessions Of the other Powers
such as the Philippines. Doubtless II
was intended to do 80, Mr.. Hughes being
careful practitioner of publicity in its
larger aspects.
The attack upon the pact will re-
yoivc around the charge TINT II is tom
oerer toward Japan thnn toward the
other Powers. And although some OBJ
servers here feel that the treaty is on
aangered. not the faintcst sign of its
defe1t is in sight.
The Democrats lack the brains and
torce OF the Republican opposition to
the Wilson covenant. They lack lendcr.
snip. They have not the courage which
recent victory in Congress election
gave to the Republicans two years nro'
AT present they are sitting about trying
TO make up their minds what to do and
waiting for sign from the country.
Inc general belief here ls thar the
country will welcome entry into world
ahairS, and not be Ms critical ms II was
when Mr.. Wilson tried 10 take It in.
The Republican explanation tint the
inclusion of Japan wi;.lr the terms of
the treaty is Of no practical Importance
Is likely to be accepted.
Talking Point for Opposition
Still this inclusion gives the opposf.
n9n It's talking point. The manner in
whlch the Americap delegates ncted
when questioned about tho intcrprctn
tion of the treaty showed that they
we're aware of this But the naval
agreement and sans factory settlement
OF Shantung would cover many sins.
In the senate this Interpretation of
the treaty caused n small sensation.
1T Is utterly inConccivable TO me
that the United States would undertake
10 guarantee protection TO Japan her.
self, Australia, and New Zealand. :"
Senator BOrah said When the trcutv
was first announced. several of us read
the guarantee clause in 1t ms obligating
TINS Government to make that guarantee
IL the treaty were ratified.
We said nothing about il. because
We were not sure. It is beyond our
hopes that those who wrote the treaty
would admit that the guarantee clause
protects Japan herself. In my mind.
It means that the treaty will certainly
be killed in the Senate
Senator Borah said that he would
nave more TO say about the Four Party
treaty from the floor OF the Senate.
Mr.. Borah and the other opponents
of the pact had been waiting for talk
ing point feeling that if they could OBJ.
tain ground '0f attack upon the treaty
which would protrnCt debate and pre-
cipitnte discussions i'll the newspaprr-
they could talk the new treaty to death
ms the Versailles treaty was talked to
death.
Reservation Would Bc Useless
A reservation might be attached tG
the treaty by the Senate eXpI cS$ly cx-
cluoing the islands of Japan proper
from its operations. But the Anglo
japanese treaty Is made to terminate
only upon thc ratification of the new
pact. And IL is doubtful whether the
japanese Government would accept such
reservation and would surrender her
alliance with England for the new ar
rangement thus modified.
There can be little doubt that ,hc
British and japanese understand tic
new treaty MS applying TO the Japanese
Islands proper
AS the opponents look ut it. this in
clusion of the MikndO'S dominons
within the purvicw Of the treaty is the
price which Mr. Hughes has had to pay
Tor the termination of the Anglo Jap
alliance. The alliance provided for the
national security Of japan in case Of
attack by combination Of Powers.
United States being excluded undnr
some broad language leaving out Powers
with which Great Britain has treaties
Of arbitration.
Now it is this national security
which Japan sought out Of this con-
ference just ms France sought il vt
Paris when she demanded the left bank
Of the Rhine and tho treaty VI defense
Il ND hu NJ oil Stuin
Preferred Position for Japan
In regard to security. Japan has n
preferred position in tho Tnrt MS in
terpretcd by tn" British spokesman.
The Powers agree to respect not only
her outlying islands. but her home ter
ritory and in both cases to consider
whether to come to her aid in case 81
attack by Powers outside the group
The United States obtains the same nS-
surancrs. but only with regard to hCr
islands in the Pa ific. such NS the Phil
ippinps and Guam. Great britain r"-
crives the same assurance. but only
with regard to Australia. New TCN'
land and other island possessions in t't
Pacific.
OF course. n reason exists for thi,
discrimination. This treaty appli"'
only to the Pacific, and III" HON" TER.
r;t6r;ps Of the United States. Grpn
Pacific. Japan is the only one Of thu
- nations whose home territory con
sists OF islands of the Pacific.
Practically tn" assurance givcn Japan
4, of ittlc consequence. No Power o
combination Of Powers outside the hi
-Four is in sight which might nttacI
Jopnn within ten years. ~" life ~ I h
t~coty, And as for tn" three other sig
nntorics. they only ngr to r"Sn"'
To,,'y territory and to discuss anon