New-York tribune., 1921-05-31
Yop and Shantung Bars
To Proposed Alliance
Plan Also Regarded as Tnnpos.
sible Of Ratification in The
Senate; Opposition Ts Certain

FROM Ih6 Ift0asae's washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, May 3o.--Reports
from London that the British govern
ment will not only keep President Har-
ding in touch with expressions of opin-
ion on the Anglo-Japanese treaty at
the conference of Dominion premiers
but will try to get the United States
to become party to that treaty, are
looked on here as certain to intensity
the interest with which Washington
will follow the proceedings of the
Forthcoming conference. 1t already has
become evident that the sentiment of
the Dominion premiers is against re-
newal of the Anglo-Japanese treaty un-
less It's terms satisfy the United States,
and 1T is likewise evident that there
Will be strong opposition, in the SEN
ate at least, to renewal of the English
and Japanes alliance.
Heretofore there has been no serious
lntimation that, realizing the opposi-
ton OF the premiers of the Dominions
TO the alliance and realizing the oppo-
sition of the United States, British
diplomacy would seek to get the United
States to enter into three-cornered
arrangement.
Plan Faces Difficulties
1t is obvious that in some respects
this would be an easy way out OF its
dlfhculties for the British government,
but as a matter of fact there is little
reason to believe this country could
be induced to enter into the treaty. in
question. Before this government could
even consider it it would have to be
minus every feature which could be
looked on as an Endorsement OF tbs
posture of affairs in the Pacific region
and in Shantung. The United States,
as viewed here, could not allow itself
to be put into Che position of indors-
ing the course of Japan as to Shantung
or as to zap. On both of these mat
ters, therefore, japan would have to
reverse her position completely, would
to the wishes of the United States as
to Yap.
And there is also involved in much
similar fashion the question Of some
of the treaty terms which Japan is
said to have forced on China, the uses
to which Japan is going to put the
former German islands in the North
Pacific and other embarrassing propo-
sitions.
Further than this, entrance of the
United States into such a treaty as
proposed inevitably would excite a
storm of disapproval in the Senate
those Senators who are either
anti English or are not willing to stand
by the British course in Europe or
other important sections Of the world.
That it would stir the pro-lrish ele-
ments in this country and in Congress
need hardly be pointed out.
Senate Ratification Impossible
On the whole, therefore, the con-
clusion cannot be escaped that such
treaty could not be ratified in the Sen
ate, and that the Harding Administra-
tion would not venture to enter it,
knowing the formidable nature of the
difficulties in the way of ratification.
But while there are reasons for be-
ieving the United States would not
enter such an arrangement, undoubted-
~. if the entrance of the United States
into an Anglo Japanese understanding
is put up to this government in con-
nection with reduction of armament or
it may present some en-
oarrassing questions for this govern
ment to consider. In other words, if
London should say to this country
Great Britain and Japan will pro-
gressively disarm if the United States
will agree to help them out If at
tackled, or If either of them is attacked"