Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-07-30
TOkiO's Alliance,
British Problem,
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2 preliminary conference between the
British Colonial Prefniers and repre- E
sentatives Of the mother country with
Mr.. Harding and Mr.. Hughes in an
ticipation of the general conference.
such q preliminary conference has been
SHARPLY rejected by the Administration.
The British efforts for a preliminary
conference and the rejection of them are
ono OF the mysteries of the situation.
Why should Great Britain desire such
. meeting2 Why is II not possible to do
In private conversations at Washington
and at London all thrs could be done
in preliminary conference held here
Mr.. Hughes is not averse to private
conversations. They are going on now
between all the great Powers called TO
the big conference.
British in Difficult Position
II is growing increasingly plain that
the country in the most difficult posi-
tfon in the coming conference. with tho
exception Of Japan, will be Great Brit
ain. On the one hand she desires above
oil things, that this conference shall
result In closer relations between herself
and America On the other, the Anglo
Japanese alliance presents genuine diff
dculties to her.
Her colonies in the Pacific do not
wish anything to be done which may
make a possible enemy Of Japan. Sup
pose the Shantung issue arises. II she
does not vote with the United States
abe creates little breach in the grow
ing Anglo American understanding,
arouses a certain suspicion that she
is at once cu'tivating japan and the
United States.
II she does vote with the United
States against Japan on Shantung she
frightens her Pacific colonies and per
haps sooner or later makes Japan a
force for stirring up India against her.
She might elect to stand openly with
the United States IL a definite entente
with the United States were possible.
II the British colonies IN the Pacific
could count upon the support of the
United States in the case OF trouble
with Japan they would be comparatively
Indifferent about satisfying Japan in
the coming conference and about the
Anglo japanese alliance.
Wants Preliminary Conference
The British Government evidently
feels that It would be well for the CO
lonial Premiers who have no diplomatic
relations with the United States TO
talk this all out with Mr.. Harding
and Mr.. Hughes in Il preliminary con-
ference. Mr. Lloyd George would prob
ably like the American Government TO
understand fully from the lips OF the
Dominion Prcmiers under what pres
sure he will be In the coming confer
ence. And he would also like the CO.
lonial Premiers to understand from the
American Administration as much as
possible the Harding Administration
policies in the Pacific.
In this way he might lessen Ameri-
can pressure upon him in the big con-
ference. And also he might remove
some of the British colonial fears Of
Japan. The American feet cOncentra-
tton in the Pacific Is going 70 be an
important factor in the conference. Ihe
colonial Premiers would probably Ike
to know what they can expect from that
feet.
A broad enough declaration OF policy
which would make peace in Australia
and New Zealand and in the Philip
pines, as well as peace IN China and
Siberia. the concern of all the sigma
tory great Powers might remove the
pressure Of the colonies upon the Brit
ish Government in the matter of japan.
But It is not certain that the confer
ence contemplates anything 80 large as
this.
- What the British seek in a prelimi-
nary conference is understanding and
close CO. operation between this country
and herself and her colonies in the COM
ing conference. The Administration in
waving aside a preliminary conference
with Britain and her colonies is evil
dently avoiding commitments and seek
ing TO force England to act in the open
at the coming conference.
That Is TO say, such is the case un-
less the move for a preliminary con
ference and its public rejection are not
a gesture to cover private Negotiations
between Great Britain and the United
States, which will make Great Brit
aims course in the big convention
easier.