New-York tribune., 1921-05-29
Premiers of British DOM
inions 10 Seek Views of
Harding Before Impe-
rial Conference i'm June
Declare Alliance
Is Needed Still
Naval Reasons Influence
Empire, but Good Will
of America Is Held Vital
From The Tribume's European Bnrcau

Copyright, 1871, New York Tribune Inc.
LONDON, May 28.--The Anglo
japanese treaty Of alliance will be
renewed when it expires in July. The
whole question, however, will be
thrashed out at the imperial confer
ence here next month, and before
Great Britain has definitely COM
mitted herself the views of premiers
of the British domirions will be COM
municated to President Harding. If
he has any objections to offer they
will receive sympathetic considera-
tion at the imperial conference ses-
sions.
This forecast of the disposition Of
the principal matter that comes be-
fore the imperial conference, OBJ
tained by The Tribune correspondent
to-day, is based upon discussions
which have been going on between
the London government and the
dominion heads. The outstanding
features of the situation are that the
dominions are agreed with the Brit
ish Cabinet that for naval reasons it
is necessary to renew the treaty with
Japan, and that at the same time the
representatives OF the empire arc
unanimous in their expressed desira
to secure American good will and CO.
operation in world affairs.
Depends on U. S. Attitude
The statesmen of the empire believe
that the Anglo-Japanese pact can be
modified so as to satisfy Americans and
still serve it's purpose as far as Great
Britain is concerned, viz, the naval
protection of British interests in the
Far East. All depends, however, upon
the attitude which the United States
takes toward world problems. If the
Washington government is content to
sit in Allied councils merely as an
observer and assume no authority ard
no responsibility, and if it refuses to
cooperate in the League of Nations or
some other association of countries,
the difficulties of arriving at COM
plete understanding will be extreme
ly great.
The British are studying carefully
every expression of American opinion
on these points. Ambassador Harvey's
speech at the Pilgrim dinner, in which
he said he would sit on the Supreme
Council, and President Harding's asser-
ton that the United States could have
nothing to do with the league because
it was merely "an enforcement agency
of vlctors," provide a puzzling paradox
to the British. simultaneously, Gen
eral Smuts, in q speech in the South
African Parliament, attacks the Su-
preme Council, saying it has not treat
ed the league fairly.
Harvey To Be Studied
The part which Ambassador Harvey
will play in the forthcoming meeting
of the Supreme Council, at which the
Upper Silesian controversy will be dis
cussed, will be studied carefully by the
British in the hope that his attitude
there will throw more light on Amer
ica's policy. The greater the amount
OF information on this subject that the
British government has when the inn
periai conference meets, the more sat-
isfactorily American objections to the
Anglo-Japanese alliance can be re-
moved.
Premier Massey of New Zealand, who
is already in London for the confer
ence, says he supported the League of
Nations at its inception because he
thought America would join. And al
though he still believes in it, he saws.
his greatest interest at the moment, is
in the establishment of a British
League of Nations
General SmutS who has sailed fro,,,
South Africa TO attend the conference
sessions, is unqualitiedly in favor Of
the league, even under present condi
tions. Premier Hughes of Australia. on
the other hand is unalterably opposed
to 1T. All three OF these premiers, in
expressions of their attitudes toward
the renewal of the Anglo-Japanese
treaty, have emphasized their belief
that the alliance terms must include
nothing to which the United States
could take ofFense.
U. S. Is Big Factor
These dominions spokesmen have
brought out strongly their belief that
the policy of the British Empire must
be founded on good relations with the
United States, whether through the
League of Nations or by understand
ing and cooperation between the United
States and the empire. The British
Cabinet holds much these same views.
and consequently complete agreement
Is expected at the imperial Conference.
Inc deliberations over the treaty are
expected to be long drawn out, and this
fact will give the British governn,e,tt
ample opportunity TO consult with
Washington.