The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-12-25

circumstances OF the present
To begin at the beginning, what
vas the explanation of the calling
ri this conference bv an American
presldent? Two circumstances com
hne to furnish the explanation,
last summer an imperial confer
enco was in session In London and
rom the point of view Of the
Washington administration the main
ouestion before this conference, OF
an the self governing fractions OF
he British empire was that of the
renewal or abrogation OF the Anglo
Japanese treaty.
Al the same time the American
|, congress was in session and there waa
NeBding In the United states a reso-
ftIon introduced by Senator Borah
-calling for a conference between the
United states. Japan and Great
Britain for the purpose OF arriving
Al some form of agreement which
would produce q naval holiday and
A limitation of existing strength
upon the sea. This Borah resolu-
ion was, too. as the weeks passed,
snlisting wider and wider national
approval II had become a fact
which no administration could wise
b ignore.
How II Started.
Now the sequence of events was
this: The United States quite dis
.reetly hut no less plainly intimated
10 the British government that a
renewal OF the Anglo-Japanese alli-
lHce would be disagreeable, excess
iEely disagreeable to the American
people as represented in the Hard
ng administration. The intimation
vas covered by all the clothing of
!lplomatic usage but the inference
vas unmistakable.
L0ndon's response to this Wash
ngton intlmation was prompt and
wO-fold. Directly, there came back
he suggestion that the single method
u avoiding a renewal of the alli-
lnces was the calling of a confer
nee in Washington to consider Pa
dfic problems. Indirectly, the
British position was made clear by
he notable speech of Lloyd George.
n which he said with almost blunt
rankness that the British could not
l0nOrably scrap an alliance which
lad been profitable to them or drop
IN ally who had been loyal in a
great war, merely because thealli-
nee was unpopular in third
!Ountry.
> Now here are all the elements
In the problem: The United States
desired 10 get rid of the Anglo
Japanese alliance, the British were
unwilling To- drop 1t outright. But
Lloyd George In this same speech
suggested a way out by proposing
triple alliance, including Britain,
Japan and the United States TO
replace the dual affair. To this
neither MIR. Harding nor MIR.
Hughes responded publicly, hut
ihere came from quarters which
were recognized TO be authorita-
tive, the definite intimation that
America was not making alli-
anccS.
Meantime the hint from London a.
osihe way out was accepted. Presi.
~ Harding issued his call for a
tfid conference TO discuss two
hMgs, the far eastern question,
vhlch corresponded to the British
Nsh and the naval question, which
'onformed 20 senator porah's resO-
u,lon bin pending before the
inited States senate. To be sure
M naval circumstance became al
\ nee, and remained in the mind OF
We American public, the chief oc-
asion Of the conference. but by con-
rSst the Pacific problem had moi
my Tor the British and the Jap
mese but also for the American
representatives. the real position of
Importance.
How 10 Kill the Alliance.
All the later conflict--ard in
lslhg the word conflict | do not
ugsest war or battle, but only the
suumate attempt OF each nation to
"olect It's own unquestioned rights
-eenters about the difference In
YMloh between America and
sSin as to the way TO get rid OF
Anslo-Japanese alliance. We
su proposed that 1t be dropped. We
'ere bound TO he best satisfied II II
,te simply thrown overheard. The
u,tlsh had proposed that another
nance be substituted. As for the
When the history Of the makins
the tour-power agreement, which
~nator Lodge presented TO the con-
erehee at the plenary session OF
seeember 10, Is written, 1t will be
w mat from November 2 to De-
Smoer 3, when, the agreement was
,"auy struck between the four ma
IONS The battle was waged betwee1
Ho thesis, that of the British foy
allance, that of the Americans
W a free will scrapping of the alli-
''ve as an evidence of friendliness
men MIR. Balfour came to Wash
ths,on' he brought, IL not an actual
"alt a very clear view of the
eement which his country de-
~ to have substituted for the
so-Japanese alliance and this
70" envlsaged something which
s very close to an actual three
S"ef alliance, the thing suggest
oy Lloyd George in his memor-
e speech OF the summer. When
VT hughes went into the confer
I'VE he carried with him the fore
.np"ledge that the United States
ug'd accept no alliance and the
ey IRE that nothing that should even
nGde.
but Mr.. Hughes position was
uhnruit, II was quite as difficult
uiat of Mr.. Wilson at Paris
bttutlSR. iIIfst kUtlann hA haH