Evening star., 1921-07-05
Harvey's Speech Reveals
Much Hinges on Relations
With Japanese.
HAMMER AT STONE WALL
WHILE PROBLEMS EXIST
Statement of Apprehension Con-
cerning Relation Between Coun-
tries Believed Key to Issue.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
BY DAVID l..

For several weeks the Washington
correspondents have been asking
President Harding and Secretary
Hughes for information concerning
disarmament. What. they have in
quired. is standing in the way: To all
has been given the same answer
polite disinclination to discuss the
matter in any form beyond the gen.
eral statement that informal feelers
had been put out to learn the attitude
of other powers.
Now, however, George Harvey
American ambassador to Great Brit.
ain. and President Harding's personal
and official representative on the Su-
preme council. has at last lifted the
veil of secrecy and confirmed what
has been suspected, but never Off,
cially admitted. namely. that our re-
lations with Japan constituted the
chief obstacle to immediate dlsarma-
ment. Here are the words in Col
Harvey's July Fourth speech at Lon
don. which convey more significance
than any other utterance on the sub
ject made by SpokeSmen OF the ad-
miniStration:
For the first time in history the tur-
bulent Atlantic has become as mill
pond, particularly eliminated from con-
siderations of danger so far as naval
warfare is concerned. There is ground
1Or SOOU nope, however, ludl "udteNCi
apprehensions exist of perilous possi-
bilities on the Pacific may be dispelled
sooner than is commonly anticipated
When, if at all. that splendid consumma-
ton shall be obtained in response to the
apparently universal desire, disarmament,
will! follow naturally and inevitably. and
peace on earth will be assured for years
at least, and it may be forever.
Navy Transfer Causes Distrust.
rs this glorious aspiration too much
to expect? Why should it be? OBJ
stacles many and grave there are, to be
sure, but what are they? What car
they be but barriers surmountable by
concert of purpose on the part of all the
nations directly concerned and no less
directly responsible to others|
Nobody in the Harding administra-
tion has heretofore made point OF
the fact that the naval power OF the
United States was practically useless
or rather potentially unnecessary
while at the same time referring to
apprehensions in the Pacific. 1t Is
true that the concentration of Ameri-
can naval forces insths- Pacific has
been the result Of a steady growth OF
suspicious that the next naval war
would be fought in the Pacific. On
the other hand, 1t is also fact that
instead of allaying apprehension in
removing distrust, the transfer of the
fleet to the Pacific has been looked
upon by the Japanese as a move re-
Quiring further activity on their part
and fastening their naval building
program.
Meanwhile in the field Of diplomacy
several other moves have been made
which have accentuated the fact that
until the special problems existing be-
tween the United States and Japan are
eolved, the friends of disarmament Will
be hammering away at a stone wall.
If anybody else in the administration
except Ambassador Harvey had drawn
Intention to the "perilous possibilities
on the Pacific" the utterance would
have been passed by without signif1-
cance. But Ambassador Harvey has
been intrusted with the very task OF
panvassing the sentiment OF the other
governments concerning disarmament,
and his conclusion that apprehenslons
concerning the relation between the
United States and Japan must first be
tnent Is looked upon today as the
frank answer and key to the whole
disarmament situation.
japan Recognizes Sentiment.
The statement by Baron Shidehara.
Japanese ambassador to the United
States, to the effect that the proposed
Lnglo-Japanese alliance was not in
tended as hostile to the United States
is q recognition by Japan of the sem
timent which has been growing in the
United States against the renewal OF
che alliance. The British government
has found it necessary to assure can
ada and Australia that the Anglo
Japanese alliance does not require the
British empire to assist Japan in the
event of a war with the United States.
Indeed, there is no tccapinS the 1act
that both Great Britain and the
United States would have no difficulty
fn nj n agreement
reduction of armament expense. II
their respective relations with japan
could be placed upon firm founda-
tion Of true friendship. The Japanese,
however, are really more eager to re-
new their alliance with Great Britain
Than is apparent on the surface, and
the British are unable to give a sub
stantial reason for discontinuing 1t
WITHOUT offending the pride Of Japan.
If it were not for the peculiar situa-
the refusal of the United States gov
ernment to enter the league of ma
tions, the problems might easily have
been solved. The league itself does
not recognize alliances. unless they
are stripped of any offensive character
and are plainly defensive. But there is
no nation in the present league which
has sufficient interest at stake to
question the propriety of the Anglo
japanese agreement or it's scope. The
been consulted either by Japan or by
Great Britain. and there is no diplo-
matte way by which the Washington
government can interpose its view
point except through the press. The
American government has certainly
not seen fit to encourage the idea OF
an Anglo-Japanese alliance, and has
on one occasion shown it's displeasure
that America was not being consulted
There is a growing curiosity in
Washington to know why it Is that
both Japan and Great Britain, being
pledged by article ten Of the league
of nations covenant to protect their
respective territorial integrity "as
against external aggression" should
need a defensive alliance.
Friends of President Wilson who
We're at the peace conference say that
Mr.. Wilson really sacrificed his views
on the Shantung question in order to
make sure of Japan's entrance into
the league of nations. feeling that 1,
was absolutely essential to bring
Japan within the Jurisdiction of the
league, SO as to prevent possible wal
between the United States and Japan
Inasmuch as America is not a mem
ber of the league of nations, the
Washington government must seek
through the avenues of diplomacy a
way to insure peace on the Pacific
Secretary Hughes is bending all his
efforts in that direction. But it has
now been officially disclosed that dis
armament will have to wait until
diplomacy has tried its hand.
Hsvht 4