The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-11-18
KNOTTY PROBLEMS
NOW ARISING, SAYS
EDITOR OF TIMES
British Publicist Senses
CrOss-Currents in
Arms Farley.

Aims fdrley.
Continued from Page One.
ed by any comparison of the strug-
giles of present-day China with the
early struggles of the American
Union.
For Door Wide Open.
Upon the principle Of the open
door Mr.. Hughes is reported to
have said that the door must be
really open. and that. when 1t is
open, Japan will stand on the
threshold. Thus, under system
of equal opportunity, Japan would
be the first to profit. He mem
toned also the Pacific mandates.
and trans-Pacifc communications,
and announced that the Japanese
American controversy over the
Island of zap had been virtually
settled. thanks to the cooperation
of Baron Shidehara, the Japanese
Ambassador.
Upon the progress of the COM
mittee on the Limitation of arma-
ments, little is yet known. but
positive announcements are prom
Used shortly.
aroused by mainly technical issues,
there is no reason to fear that the
conference will be allowed to de-
generate into a succession of con-
troversies on detached points. or
that the momentum impaired to ii
at the beginning will be seriously
abated
Unless 1 am mistaken, Mr..
Hughes will strive to avoid at
once the danger of stampeding the
conference into premature deci-
sions, and the danger of permitting
any over-dispersion of its atten-
ton. Moreover, the main under
lying questions are big enough to
reduce details to relative insight
ficance. These questions. as l
pointed out yesterday. are the limi-
tation of naval ornaments, the
Anglo-Japanese alliance. and the
evacuation Of Shantung. To them
must be added the Interior ques-
ton of the attitude of the Ameri-
can people and Of the Senate to-
wards any form of international
ARRANGEMENT into which the Ameri-
cal delegation, on behalf of the
Executive, may enter.
Anxlo-Japanese Alliance.
II is important that people in
Great Britain and throughout the
Dominions should realize the true
position in regard to the Anglo
Japanese alliance. This position
cannot be determined by any de-
sire, no matter how laudable or
profitable. to spare American sus-
capabilities or prepossessions. As
in all matters affecting the welfare
Of nations or of states, this mat
ter can, in the last resort, be set
tied only by regard for the we'll
considered interests and response
bilities of the British Empire.
American opinion, which is often
forgetful of historical facts, Is
sometimes prone to be less than
lust toward the services which the
AnCIo-Japanese alliance has rem
dered to the peace of the world
Gin the past. and which it rendered
to the allied cause during the great
war: just as il is now prone TO
make the retention or the ahroga-
ton Of the alliance test question
Of the reality of British goodwin
toward the United States.
With all Difference to American
feelings, an Englishman may per-
hans be allowed without ofense 10
submit that this is not the most
tactfuI way of putting the matter.
Tho future of the AnGlO-Japanese
alliance needs to be determined IN
the light Of the advantages or draw =
hacks which its continuance might
involve. Upon mature consideration
the balance of advantage. which IN
,Iudes the prospective influence OF
The British Empire as a whole Tor
t-,c maintenance of peace IN the
Pacific and throughout the world
,..ms clearly to indicate the abro-
.-,tion of the alliance, irrespective
an ARRANGEMENT for the limitation
,- ornaments, beneficient though
srrcb an arrangement would emf
rentIy be as contributory pledge
cr tranquility. In so far as Amer
lean opinion anticipates the growth
rf cordial cooperation between
F,nglish-speaking nations. it should
therefore welcome any British deci-
sion that may be based upon Brit
isb interests. rather than a decision
Insured solely by a wish to please
the United states. since policies OF
the former character can alone pro-
mote lasting harmony among self
respecting and independent COM
4 munities.
Answers PropaEanda.
II is the more necessary to make
This DOint clear. in view of the
rress campaign against the confer
nee which opened Wednesday and
continued Yesterday. The gravamen
cf the campaign is the charge that
fF,aff nf vol