Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-12-08
u. S. NOT INVOLVED BY AMTTY
PLEDGE IN ANY ALLIANCE
tContinued rrom rirst parcl

Thus II would not surprise close OBJ
servers here II the whole range OF
controversies under consideration
| were gathered In tho end under one
| blanket understanding to be trans
| lated then into several formal instru-
nents of agreement
! Both Japan and China reflected op-
/ timtsm over the Shantung negotiations
/ tonight. after another meeting in
5 which Japan offered to give M the
public property in the leased terri
/ tory OF Kiao Chow. as another step
toward meeting the Chinese position
In the committee OF the whole OF the
nine nations. n resolution was adopt ed
during the day. plcdginG respect for
Ehina's neutrality in future wars and
restricting the uses of foreign radio
. facilities on Chinese soil.
There is Il general feeling that all
OF these Subjects-the Chinese cues
| tons. ShantunE. the naval ratio and
the new cooling on treaty-may all
move along ccncurrenuy so that none
of them reaches definite settlement
until all arc ready to he Jumped into
'inal program OF accomplishment.
Look for tnnnlInoms Agreement.
Although some or those who arc
sponsoring TIE new four-power plan
rave gone so far as 10 prepare 4 ten
tative treaty draft, there are several
dctai!s on which tine Observation-Disclosures
nave not yet presented their views in
their informal exchanges. There
seems to be ii universal confidence,
however. that details easily can h.
adjusted. once the principle involved
taS unanimous acceptance.
Thus far Great Britain alone ne
inc -FOUR powers has given an "ac-
ceptance in principle" but her del
eEates like those OF Japan. hay.
cablcd home for further instructjons
before going into n more definitiye
discussion of treaty draft. The
Japanese anu American delegates are
proceeding slow. apparently takInr
into account the special rcu,,irements
OF their respective governmental
systems. and the French are said To
nave taken very little part So far
In the conversations
secrct Carefully Guarded.
II was nj meeting OF the "bic
three nearly week ago that tina
project iS understood to have taken
sucn FORM as TO permit of its trans
actions To- the London and Tokv,
Foreign Offices for Instructions VIA,
passed at this meeting has been
carefully guarded, and until today
u" authoritative spokesman would
confirm or deny the many and ynrie0
reports OF proposed alliances" I'M
derstanginEs." and ..uentIcmon.s
agreements" The official American
spokesman sim remained silent to-
night hut from other sources /, hc-
camc known what the American at
titudc had been.
Ihe american delegates il was
S"'"' had tclt from the beginning OF
the negotiations that some form OF
III Il
PEACE OF the Pacific was ono of The
developments most to be hoped for
ms ii result of the Washington con-
ference. The AnElo-.rapanese alli-
ancc was said to he regarded as less
efficieni for such a purpose than
would he an agreement in which
other powers having extensive in
tcrcsts in tho Pacific could Join.
y" Alliance Possible.
ON the other hand, the American
Gr"up round itself bound by Well
"eiih"d restrictions in view of the
constitutional limitations of the e>-
ccutive in treaty-making and tho
long established national policy Of
non involvement in foreign entang!e
menus The foreign plenipotentiaries
arc understood to have been told
frankly thnt the American delcra-
tion could not consider any prcpnsal
hpproaching an alliance, and that
even IL such proposal were ncro-
'i"ted tho American Senate never
would rat!fy il.
Inc problem then became a oues-
uoh or hndinE such basis of agree
mcht as would impcl Japan and
Treat britain 10 ahrogatc the alli-
"hcc' ana AT the Same time be assured
or Senate ratification. At ono time
4 system OF compulsory orhi,r,t;,,
treaties is said 10 have hccn consid-
cred and abandoned In the plan
now under consideration the Amer
ichn delegates are understood to fccl
confident OF Senate support. and the
intimations coming unonicially from
both Japanese and British sources in
dicate that the proposal also is re-
cciving favorable consideration at
London ana Tokyo The position of