Evening star., 1921-08-19
Lloyd George Suggestion
Meets With Disfavor in
This Country.
BELIEVED MOVE TO BACK
OUT OF PRESENT TREATY
Forecasts Important Role Which
Far East Issue Will Play in
Disarmament Conference.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
American will not be party to the
present Anglo-Japanse alliance.
The attitude Of the United States
toward offensive and defensive alli-
ances Is not to be altered.
Cooperation between the United
States and the other powers SO far as
the far east is concerned should not
be difficult. 1t is sought by America,
and this country will enter into any
arrangement for the preservation of
peace in the far east the principles of
which are in accord with American
tradition.
The foregoing statements are based
upon Information obtained today in
omcial quarters in reply to the speech
OF Prime Minister Lloyd George in the
house Of commons suggesting that "if
the alliance between Great Britain
and Japan could emerge into a great
er understanding with Japan and the
United States on all problems of the
Pacific that would be q great event
which would be guarantee for the
peace of the world"
Not Omcially Proposed.
Naturally the Lloyd George proposal
AiOS pC4OTc TIE american govern.
ment for consideration, so formal
comment would not be proper. Never
theless. the effort of the British to
make plain their desire for an en-
largement of the Anglo-Japanese al
lance had not failed to make an i'm
ministers speech. The viewpoint of
this government was forecast in these
columns the earlier part Of this week.
particularly as 1t shows what the
discussion Is likely to be when the
nations get together in the disarm-
ament conference on November IL.
Why do the British want the Anglo
Japanese alliance enlarged to include
the United States-in fact, why do
they urge 1t in the face of the Ameri-
can Senate's rejection Of the league
Of nations with It's all-inclusive arti-
Gle 10? The answer to that question
throws some light on the British diff
Guilty In handling the subject of re.
newtnFf the Anglo -J2panese alliance
while the United States and, the Brit
point on tar eastern Q1estioaA.
Relieved SeekinE LoophoIe.
The fact Is that many observers
here think Prime Minister Lloyd
George Is seeking q graceful way to
bring about the abrogation of the
Anglo-Japanese alliance without Of
Tending Japan. His suggestion that
America pc incluoe0 WouiQ mean oO-
jections from America as to certain
clauses of the alliance requiring
military and naval obligation. To
open up tn Anglo-Japanese alliance
1t might be necessary for the British
formally to denounce that alliance as
a preliminary to the making of a new
agreement. Once the Anglo-Japanese
alliance is. denounced. discussion Of
a substitute ensues. Then will come
the turning point Of the whole con-
troversy, for the United States un-
questionably will propose a treaty or
Britain, japan and the United States,
but France. Italy and China.
In other words, the prime ministers
speech in the house of commons is
regarded here as significant OPEN
ing of the discussions, which must
precede an agreement at the dis
armament conference next November.
America insists that a special alliance
between three powers Is insufficient
and will not have the same effect in
general convention including China,
France and Italy. all Of whom have
important interests in the far east.
Far East Big Problem.
The basic purpose Of the Anglo-Japa-
nese alliance in so far as 1t means con-
sultation between the east and west lie
not Objectionable here. Being asso-
ciated with Japan in partnership of
nations Is Just as much welcomed as
it is in the British empire-no more
and no less. But the Washington gov
ernment agrees with the prime min
ister's statement that unless far east
ern controversies are settled there is
little hope for disarmament. And the
viewpoint here is that a special agree
ment between Japan. United States and
Great Britain would not be sufficient
and that corporation in the far east
ought to be general and all-inclusive to
be effective.