The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-12-06
AMERICA WILL NOT
enter ALLIANCE.
Might Join Grand Council
of All Nations Interested
In Far East
STANDS FIRM FOR
OPEN DOOR IN CHINA
Possible United States, Japan and Great
Britain May BE Dominant In Control
of Far East-China Wants to Partici-
pate In Agreements Affecting Her.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.


Especial Dispatch TO The. Reformer.)
~ ~" Copyright 1921.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.-The United
States will hardly agree to any three
power or even four-power pact to substi
tute for the Anglo-Japan alliance, as sug-
gested from japanese sources. The same
proposal has been made by the British
spokesman.
The attitude of the American govern
ment has not changed since its negative
response was made TO the identical idea
when Prime Minister Lloyd George made
his first speech on the subject shortly be-
fore the armament conference was called.
/ If America enters into any political
; agreement covering Far Eastern ques-
tons it viii be along broad lines and will
include every nation which has interest in
that part of the world. The American
government has a vivid recollection of
what happened in the informal parIeys
which followed the issuance of invitations
to the Washington conference. Originally
only five powers besides China were in
vited. but it was evident before many days
had passed that the people of Holland.
Portugal and Belgium felt sighted and
that their governments gave an impress
sion of being Disseminated against The
United States government promptly in
vited all three governments To send repre-
sentatives.
Not Favorable to Alliance.
But even if there were no question of
! discrimination as against other powers
involved. still the attitude of the Wash
ington government would be one of oppo-
Sition to any three powers pact. That
I kind of an arrangement is construed as
nothing more nor less than an alliance.
And the idea of an alliance or agreement
with a special group of pawers which
might in any way be interpreted as an
exclusive affair is unpalatable To the gov
eminent. Every expression from both
the White House and department. of state
since the Informal suggestions began to be
made about thrce-corneTed alliance has
met with the same response as the United
! States will enter into an agreement ON
I the Far East only if 1t covers all the pow
ers who have interests there.
Chance for Reconciliation.
/ There is. of course, a chance to recon
I ellie the views of those who wish to make
( the United States. japan and Great Brit
I ain dominant in handling the affairs of
I the Far East and those who wish 10 draw
/ up an Arrangement which shall establish
once and for all the peace of the Far
! East The fact is that the three principal
powers are much more interested in the
/ Far East than are the others and any
pact signed by the nine nations now rep
resented here would, of course. place them
on terms of equality but would at the
same time hardly lead to the same amount
/ of interest in the settlement of questions
/ that may arise in the future.
! Another objection TO a three-powcr ar
1 rangement is the impression which il
might give Of special interests. The
! United States government is cOntendlng
for the genuine application Of the open
door" policy which in the minds of Wash
tington government officials means equality
| of commercial opportunity. y hard and
| fast agreement, especially one based upon
/ economic essentials, which took into con
Britain and Japan, might be viewed by
one of these three powers as a license to
: sideration only the United States, Great