New-York tribune., 1921-12-21

islands would be almost certain to fol-
lcw attacks on her outlying possessions.
In the latter event The Horsepower
treaty would at once become operative
that is, it would be the duty OF tho
tour signatery powers to consult AT
once a: to what should be done. So
that the consultation would be prac-
sically inevitable In any attack upon
Japan.
IN connection with the Ameriean
proposal to include the home islands
Of Japan in the purview oil the treaty.
Il Was said that this move was actu-
stet purely by regard for Hawaii. Ha~
wall is a part Of the territory of the
United States. nat q possession OF this
country in the same sense that the
Philippines ar Porto Rico are posses
sions. The United States wished to
retain the right to fortify Hawaii, yet
At thc.same time the delegation. real
iginS, that more than half the total
population Of Hawaii is Japanese, and
being q little uneasy over that fact,
thought it we'll 10 include Hawaii i'll
The four~power breathing spell agree
ncnt, thus pledging Japan to respecS
American rights in Hawaii.
So the language was changed pur-
posely to make 1t apply to all islands
in the Pacific which are either posses
sions or dominions OF any of the four
countries. The word dominion, it was
pointed out here tonight, which Pres
ident Harding did not recognize as APP
plying to the main islands of Japan, is
applied to England in The old Oxford
prayer and is .applied to the State of
Virginia in the expression "o}d Do
Miaion."
Five Powers in Accord
Developments over the Jous-power
treaty overshadowed in interest here
today another big step toward the sue
eessful conclusion of the conference
the fact that with the acceptance by
France to-day OF the naval ratio sill
FIVE naval powers are in accord so Tar
AS limitation of capital ships is con-
cerned. Italy had made il clear in a0-
snce that she would accept any size
feet which the conference might de-
termine, provided she was kept on an
equality with France, che Italian con-
tention being that Italy must have q
feet equal to that of any other Medi-
rerranean power. The new ratio will
give France and Italy t75,000 tons each
os capital ships.
The full naval committee. which con
sists of the delegates of the fvc naval
powers, will meet on Thursday morn
ng, after the experts nave worked all
day tomorrow, on the question Of aux
iliary craft, now that the FIVE naval
eowers are in entive accord on the
question OF capital ship limitation.
This means that the naval limitation
agreement s we'll within sight; so
clearly, in fact. that there is much
speculation among the delegates TO-
night as to the possibility OF the whole
business being cleaned up on Thursday
and then announced at an open session
OF the conference on Friday. This is
based on the assumption, OF course,
that tnsre will be no serious difficulty
raised by the contentious of Japan for
$4,000 tons OF airplane carriers. or of
France for an allowance of submarines
and other auxiliary craft far in excess
Of her ratio Of battieships.
Big Task Accomplished
lue best opinion tonight is that the
conference will be inclined to deal lib
orally with all such aspirations, feeling
the big task of limiting naval arrna
ment-for the present at least--has
ZtSti aNSSihptfS1cuy anu s<h&sAE tAS; ssCN
hat is was capital ship construction
sather than the building of smaller
craft which was playing havoc with
national treasures in the armament
sssee. s'sts~-s
The position of President Harding
oa the four-power Pscific treaty, how
ever, is easily the big surprise, not Of
ste day. but probably Of the whole con-
ference. Everything else which has
happened, save only the original an
nouncement Of navaY limitation plans
ny Mr.. Hughes, had been pretty we'll
discounted.
Baron Kato, speaking for the jap
anese tonight, having been informed
1t President Harding's opinion, took
Immediate refuge in the statement that
.reaties, of course, changed in mean
i#:g. and that it-.wonld be. necessary for
The experts of the Toxic Foreign Office
% eonstrue It before he should state
AS opinion.