New-York tribune., 1921-12-21
President Modifies His
Original View After
Lodge and Underwood
Call at White House
Supports Proposal
OF U. S. Delegates
Covenant Now May Be
Redrafted to Eliminate
Possible Senate Fight
By Carter Field

WASHINGTON, Dec 20.-Presi,
dent Harding stands back of the
four-power Pacific treaty, even to
including the home islands of Japan.
although until tonight he had never
thought the treaty would apply to
Japan proper.
This was made clear in a state
ment issued from the White House
tonight after two-hour conference
with Senator's Lodge and Under
wood, of the American delegation,
and which shows the Presidents at
titude. 1t follows:
when the President was respond
ing to press inquiries at the after
noon interview to-day he expressed
the opinion that the homeland Of
Japan did not come within the words
insular possession and ,nsular do
minions' under the four-power agree
ment except as territory proper of
any other nation which is party to
the agreement.
This expression" the statement
continued, "has been emphasized as q
division between the President and
the delegates to the conference in
constituting the four power agreement
The President announced tonight
that the difference in view in no wise
will be permitted to embarrass the
conference or the ratification of the
agreement. He had assumed all
along that the spirit of the confer
ence contemplates a confidence which
pledges respect of territory in every
way which tends to promote lasting
peace.
He has learned from the United
States delegates to the conference
that they. have agreed to the con-
struction which includes the home
land of Japan in the term 'insuIar
possessions and insular donainions,'
and has no objection to that con-
struction."
Article I Raises Issue
Article l of the four-power treaty.
on which the differing views were
based begins:
"The high contracting parties
agree as between themselves to re-
spect their rights in relation to their
lnsular possessions and insular do
minions in the regions of the Pacific
Ocean,
The article adds that in case of a
controversy between two nations over
rights which cannot be settled by
diplomacy they shall invite all the
slgnatories to conference to adjust
the matter. Article II says that if
these rights are threatened by aggres-
sion the signatories by communication
shall seek an understanding to meet
the situation.
On top of the development regard
ing the Presidents views it was learned
by The Tribune correspondent tonight
from an absolutely reliable source that
the original proposal to include the
ehIet islands of Japan was not made
by Japan, nor even by England, both of
whom had been suspected in those
quarters where the treaty has been
viewed with the most suspicion, but by
the American delegation.
SO from proposing that their own
main islands be included, the Japanese.
when they first noticed the language
winch was meant to include them-the
word "dominions Expressed some re-
sentiment, pointing out that the ma
tlonal pride of their people would be
hurt at this inference that they might
need protection for their own defense.
Hawaii Used as Argument
Whereupon the Americans made an
argument in favor of retaininn the
treaty in just that language, pointing
out that they wished to include Hawaii,
which was not possession of America,
but territorial part of America, and
that therefore no objection could be
made to include the nome islands OF
Japan. The japanese cheerfully agreed
to this, with the British and French
approving and no one objecting.
There the matter stood until to-day
except for various attacks upon the
inclusion of the main islands of Japar
in various quarters and the rapidly
developing certainty that there woulls
be strong fight made in the Senate
for reservation on this point.
The modification Of the treaty, it was
believed, might take even a more direct
form than reservation and be brought
about by redrafting.
The members of the American dele
cation to-day were evidently surprised
that the President had not understood
what they had done and why they had
done it. They from the first have re-
garded the whole discussion over the
inclusion of the main islands of Japan
as tempest in teapot
Earlier in the day it had been made
clear at the White House that the
President had not the remotest idea
that the treaty included the main
islands of Japan. Apparently he did
not approve it. and certainly he did not
think it was true.
Sees Lodge and Underwood
Late this afternoon Senators Lodge
and Underwood, of the American dele
cation, went TO the White House to ask
the President about his statement.
Soon thereafter it was made known
that statement was forthcoming at
the White Hopse, and little later
still the statement printed above was
given out.
The American delegates have taken
the POSITIONS one of the delegation
expressed it to-day that in the event
OF war between Japan and the United
States, everything in the way Of an
agreement falls to the ground anyway,
=ad SO far as the main islands of Japan
being attacked by sone nation outside