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

can Interpretation OF this treaty. We
are committed to nothing which Is
not stated in that speech because
that speech definitely establishes the
American Interpretation OF the
treaty itself
over the language of the agree
mcnt the battle was long and sharp.
To take single example. The last
provision OF article ". contains the
reward for al American concessions
else where. II is asserted that fol-
lowing ratification Of the four-power
treaty the Anglo-Japanesc treaty
shall terminate" But MIR. Balfour
for long contended that for ter
inmate should be used the phrase
shall be superseded" Supercession,
however would at least imply the
notion that one treaty OF alliance
mad replaced another and as "a con-
sequence the American representa-
uyes stood firm and won.
Another American Victory.
They won also In another import
ant direction. Tho British and the
Japanese at all times from the mo-
mcnt OF the speech of Mr.. Lloyd
George onward, contended for a
three-party arrangement. But a
thrcc-party arrangement would,
view, have suggested all too strong
~ that one alliance had given way
10 another As a consequence when
the three powers had reached agree
ment, Mr. Hughes proposed that
France be admitted to sign. Here
was new complication which
brought new delay The proposal
was opposed by the Japanese and
The British because ii obviously
weakened the moral effect of the
arrangement. gave 1t a more general
and less Impressive character.
In the end France was admitted
ana signed. To bc sure, France
Iad Islands In the Pacific, but
they are small and unimportant
and the Pacific H. not IA field OF
French activity or interest. The
admission of France was SUPER
iicially IA graceful recognition OF
French prestige az a great power,
hut on the other hand Il was
concession to American insistencc
that the presence of France was
necessary, II the treaty was To be
put through the United States
senate, for otherwise the Amcri-
can representatives In the confer
cncc would seem To have been out
generated and brought into AN
arrangement In which two former
allies would certainly outyote and
Ovcrbear them.
Keeping in mind this treaty, one
may interpret the four power treaty
quite exactly. But in interpreting 1t
one must bear in mind always the
explanation of why 1t was made.
America asked. specifically, definite
ly. frankly, that the Anglo apanese
oil III .t,.. t.I E,-tt V,d
Japan accepted in principle the
proposal that II be eliminated. but
demanded In return that they have
certain benefits which they desires
and which they felt represented n
reasonable compensation for the
sacrifice which was asked of them.
Now the main compensation
which the United States has Conced-
ed Is to Japanese prestige and Japa-
nese security. We have undertaken
to respect tho rights Of the Japa-
nese in the case of their insular pos
sessions and insular dominions In the
region of the Pacific ocean. And
this means despite a certain vague
ness in phrase and lack Of clarity in
explanation, not only the japanese
colonies, but the japanese homH-
lands, Il does not cover any Japa-
nese rights or claims on the main
land of Asia, but IT, does cover all of
the Japanese empire otherwise.
Again for Japan.
This represents a concession TO the
japanese desire for security. Il
means in diplomatic phrase that the
United States promises not to attack
Japan, not to question Japanese title
to islands anywhere in the Pacific.
The Japanese representatives can
return to their home and explain to
their fellow countrymen that they
have exchanged a treaty Of alliance
with Britain for a treaty of insur-
ance. which guarantees them
against either American or British
attack. Remember that there has
been "A Japanese party which has ar
fected To believe that the Uniteo
states contemplated such an attack
and the significance is clear. Agains,
such an attack the Anglo-Japancss
alliance was. practically valueless.
Thus the four power treaty repre-
scnts a gain from the japanese
point of view. They have given mp
something, but they have acquired
something more than they had.
In addition they have acquired
the pledge of the United States TO
submit any difference arising over
Pacific issues to a conference be-
tween all four parties TO the treaty
and the equally valuable promise
that in case Japan Is otherwise
threatened. that all four shall COM
munlcate with each other fully ana
frankly to arrive at an understand
ing asdo the most efficient measures
to be taken jointly or separately To
meet the oxigenCies of the particu-
lar situation,
First and last great deal has
been spoken and written about TINS
last provision. article RI of the
treaty. Does IT constitute an alh-
ance? Does II not imply moral, II
not a legal undertaking II seems
10 be that but for a single circum-
stance this question would have to
have an affirmative answer Iiut
this circumstance is all-important.
il is found In the words Of Senator
Lodge I'm explaining the treaty
which were as follows;
"Thcre Is no provision for the
usc of forCSc 10 carry out any or
the terms of the agreement and
no military or naval sanction
turks anywhere In the background
or under cover of these plain and Z
direct clauses
For the purposes Of international
procedure the speech Of Senator