The Republican journal., 1921-12-29
THE FOUR-POWER TREATY

This treaty between the United States,
Great Britain, France and Japan has
been under discussion in the Senate,
nendng it's ratification by that body. 1t
was vigorously opposed by Senator Reed.
democrat, Senator Borah. Republican,
aad several other senators. In order to
understand the treaty let US see what Its
provisions are. The following is the en-
tire text of its stipulations:-
ARTICLE
The high contracting parties agree as
between themselves to respect thelr
rights in relation to their insular possess
sions and insular dominions in the re-
sions of the Pacific Ocean.
If there should develop between any OF
the high contracting parties controver
sy arising out of any Pacific question and
inyolving their said rights which is not
satisfactorily settled by diplomacy and is
Iikelv to affect the harmonious accord
now happily subsisting between them,
they shall invite the high contracting
parties to Joint conference, TO Whlch
Che whole subject will be referred Tor
consideration and adjustment.
ARTICLE II
II the said rights are threatened by the
aggressive action of any other power, the
HIGH contracting parties shall commune
cate with one another fully and frankly
in order to arrive at an understanding DIS
fo the most efficient measures TO ne
taken, jointly and separately, to meet the
exiqencies of the pz rticular situation.
ARTICLE III
This agreement shall remain IN force
for ten years from the time 1t shall take
effect, and after the expiration OF said
period it shall continue to be IN force
subject to the right of any of the high
contracting parties to terminate II upon
twelve months notice.
ARTICLE "
This agreement shall be ratl1led as soon
as possible in accordance with the con-
stitutional methods of the high contrac-
ting parties, and shall take effect on the
deposit of ratifications, which shall take
place at Washington, and thereupon the
agreement between Great Britain and
Japan which was concluded at London on
July IS, 1911, shall terminate.
1t is plainly apparent that this treaty
relates solely to the "insular possessions
snd insular dominions of the regions ol
the Pacific ocean," meaning the Islands
therein, nothing more. Its terms are
simple and there is no provision for the
use of force to carry out any OF Its pro-
visions. Such treaty cap do no harm
and may do much good.
We DO not know how many islands
there are in the Pacific ocean but it is
entirely within bounds to say that there
are more than 10000. The home king
dom of Japan has 1000, and besides owns
the Carolines, 500 in number, located
,. 500 miles from Yokohoma, and hum
dreds of islands in other parts of the Pa
ecific which are of great economic and
str trategic value to her.
The United States also has "insular
possessions" of several hundred islands
IN the Pacific. The Hawaiian group is
the most valuable OF these. They are
situated about 1000 miles from San
Francisco and about 800 miles from ia
pan. IhelT totai area Is lh9ie ehdh o,Soo
square miles and have population
little less than half of the State OF Name
These islands became ours by right of
discovery and were annexed to the Unit
ed States as part thereof, by act of
Congress. in 1889.
The Samoan group, situated 2,263 miles
southwest of Hawaii is another of our
important island outposts. Aside from
its great value as center for the sxpan-
sion of our trade in the South Pacific,
here is found the best harbor in all that
vast region, We have also numerous
eother widely scattered islands in the Pa
acific which are utilized as telegraph, ca
ole, wireless or coaling stations, all nee
essary for the maintenance of our trade
and for our national safety.
The Philippines are to be considered,
for the present at least, as being under
the ''insular dominions' of the United
States. There are about 1900 of these
islands, but only about $50 of them have
IN area of more than, one square mile.