Evening star., 1921-12-11
Four-Power Treaty
Breaks Long jam
of. Conference.
DELEGATES TO SIGN
AGREEMENT AT ONCE
Question of Submarines
Also Expected to Be
Quickly Settled.
RY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

Pacific islands was aSSenteu W Aoi
mally by the delegates of the Onlteo
States. Great Britain, France and ia
pan.
Other issues before the conference
Pc expected row to move 1or"aro
18th great rapidity.
Hut ifIhe Washington conference
ould bring forth nothing peyoiis
The new four-power, treaty 1t Will
Lave justified itself. was the view
taken here last night. The new pact
brings assurance of peace in the 1ar
oast-it goes far toward the ehmlha-
1icn of the tension which has waxed
and waned and waXed again. 1t pro-
yides for the termination OF the
Anslo-Japanese treaty OF aliiance'
which, rightly or wrongly. was looked
upon with suspicion in this country.
Events to Move Rapidly.
The Forthcoming week probably
will see the settlement of the naval
ratio question as between the United
States, Great Britain and Japan, and
proba bly also the naval ratio of France
and Italy.
The proposed ten-year naval hOll-
day and the question of submarines
also will be quickly settled. it was
declared on high authority last night.
There remain the Chinese problems,
which have advanced measurabiy al
ready The progress of the discus
sions with relation to China has been
very satisfactory.
So far as the four-power treaty is
cencerned-the treaty of Washing
ton, as it probably will be recorded
in history-it was learned on the
highest authority last night that Il
will be formally signed by the pleni-
potentiaries of the nations involved
Immediately. 1t will then be for
President Harding to determining When
it shall be transmitted to the Senate
for ratification. -
Must Go to Cabinets.
The treaty must go to the British
cabinet, to the cabinet of Japan and
to the French senate and chamber of
deputies for approval also before the
final ratification can be exchanged.
The view last night was unanimous
that ratification would be completed.
Senator Lodge in presenting the
treaty yesterday said that the rati-
fication by the United States was de-
pendent upon the successful negotia-
tion of an agreement between the
United States and Japan regarding
the inundated Island Of Zap. At the
State Department it was said yester-
day afternoon that an agreement on
Yap was now merely matter of
hours"
The Senate Of the United States
will ratify the new treaty when it is
submitted it. This was confidently
predicted last night.
The great majority of expressions
OF opinion voiced by senators yes
terday after reading the treaty was
highly favorable.
senate Fight Organising.
\ fight against ratification is or
ganizing. however, among some of
the old "irreconcilables" of then Sen
ate But the indications are they will
not obtain sufficient votes to prevent
favorable action. The democrats,
who with few exceptions voted for
the league of nations! ycan scarcely
be expected to oppose the present
treaty on the ground that it would
accomplish the same end as that of
the league. which so faK has been the
only argument advanced against the
new treaty by the irreconcilables.
The tremendous sentiment in the
country in favor Of bringing forth
from the Washington conference ac-
tual accomplishments looking to
peace. and particularly peace in the
far east, is expected to have it's in
fuence on the Senate.
Any effort to make it appear that
the new treaty in its article II ap-
proaches article x of the league of
nations covenant will fall fiat
Il have deep sympathy for any one
whose opinion Is that there is any
blood relation between article II Of
this treaty and the league of nations
covenant" said the spokesman of the
American delegation yesterday after
noon.
Hangs ON Word .Preserve."
He explained that. the article X Of
the league of nations, which caused
the failure of the treaty of Versailles
and the league covenant ip the Sem
ate provided that the contracting
parties should respect" and also
preserve" (meanii1g with force) the
territories and rights of the nations
party to the pact. The kernel in that
nut. he pointed out, was the ""pre-
serve"
In the new treaty there is nothing
that calls for the preservation of any
right or territory by use of force. 1t
calls for consultation and for the
giving of friendly advice. There is
no obligation imposed upon the con-
tracing parties to carry out any de-
cision arrived at in such conference,
and it will be a matter for the ma
tions involved to determine through
their regular constitutional proc
Continued on Page 8. Cotuian 60 =