The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-11-14

against the treaty between Britain and
Japan. The japanese want to save
that treaty IL they can. The British
have no positive use for 1t, since Ger
many Is Overthrown, but they are
alarmed about giving It up. They
don't want Japan fOOling around In
India. Ghandi is making enough
trouble all by himself.
One point made I'm the discussions
is that, logically at least, the Anglo
Japanese alliance Is ended by the mere
fact that this conference has been
called The mere fact that the United
States called a conference to discuss
the Pacific shows that the Pacific can
not be looked on as matter lying
exclusively between Great Britain and
Japan.
Those are the high points of British
and Japanese policy. and all the argu-
ments going on today center around
them. The policy of the United
States Is easy to state, but not hint
has been let out of how it is to be EN-
bodiedssin q definite arrangement.
The abstract policy that will be de-
Tended by our Government could not
be put more neatly than it was put by
the secretary of the Chinese delega-
ton. who said:
The door should be kept open, and
the door belongs to China"
To pretend to tell how that formula
is going to be applied by our Govern
ment 10 Manchuria, Siberia, Shan
tung and the other critical points
| would be folly. II our Government
has il worked out the secret is as well
kept as was the explosion OF Satur-
day.
When Mr.. Balfour makes his an
nouncement tomorrow he will face al
most exactly the audience that he
saw Saturday when he proposed Mr..
Hughes preside over the delibera-
tiCNs.
Power Of Press Evident.
Surrounding the delegates. in what
might be called the orchestra rircle
will again sit those men who through
hundreds OF newspapers reflect the
public opinion that in truth is the
boss of this conference. From
Bryan TO Wells, LON Mary Roberts
Rinehart to Ida Tarbell, they will
send the story to the four corners
of the earth.
And IL you do not believe that the
public, whom these writing men and
women serve. is the boss of this con-
ference, just fix your intellect on the
fact that Secretary Hughes a few
short weeks ago was using his pow
ers to prepare the country for post
poning the issue of reducing arm
aments until after the Pacific agree
ments had been completed.
The change of plan was due to Mr..
Common People and to nobody else.
The elections of last Tuesday put the
final scare into the Administration
and keyed its members to the POINT
where they were determined to make
bold stroke for popular favor.
The plan for naval reduction did
not come from the Naval Department.
Never believe II. The Navy Depart
ment has been worried. 1t has been
figuring just how big a navy we need
ed for the execution of the Monroe
Doctrine and just how big a navy we
needed for the protection of our mer.
chant marine, our interests in the Pa
cific and our interests everywhere.
Hughes Plan Not Nays.
The State Department, with its
well-known sense of form, did ask
some members of the navy whether
tonnage was a possible mode of meas
urement and got some kind of an an
swer on which IL could act. But as to
the promotion of the essential policy.
II came from the men who control the
political direction of the Administra-
ton and IL came not at all from the
Navy Department.
There is, however. just one clause
in the proposal that had technical
naval meaning, as seen from the
American point of view. The limita-
ton Of the size of battleships to 80. 900
tons fits neatly with the whole
scheme Of checking competition and
expenses, but incidentally IL doubles
the future efficiency of the American
fleet.
Naval officers have been worrying
lately over the fact that IL battle
ships increase much further in size
they cannot get through the Panama
canal. The largest ones now can
barely get through. IL they should
grow too big we should either have
to enlarge the canal or see our fleet
deprived OF half it's efficiency. So
this little clause suits us pretty well.
Some OF the people most concerned
approach Tuesday with skepticism or
doubt. some with confidence. EN-
phatically in the second class is to
be counted President Harding.
The great success that was scored
Saturday strengthens the belief he
has had right along that his Admin.
istration would be able to find some
affirmative and practicable answer to
the question Of how we are to help in
making world-relations run more
smoothly without involving the United
States in the kind Of commitments re-
jected last November.
Secretary Hughes maintains always
the same unfailing calm and clear
purpose. Speaking to friend, he
said:
II mean to do just as much as
public opinion will let me do. am
guided by the logic of events"