Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-05
PLAN FOR 4POWER
ENTENTE DRAF TED
Alliance Of United States, Brit
ain, Japan and France
Under Consideration
WOULD DROP DUAL PACT
BY the Associated Press

BY the Associated Press
Washington, Dec. J.-Thc draft Of n
Vuadruple Entente which would serve
an substitute for the Anglo japanese
niliancc, It was learned today from Ou-
tnoritative sources. Is nov under con.
sideration by the governments of tho
United States, Great Britain. Japan
and F"ancc.
This IL said to explain the delay Of
thf japanese Government in announC
ing It's decision concerning the question
OF the ratio of naval tonnage because il
appears that as the problem of warShip
tonnage is connected with national poll
icy, the two matters are being discussed
together.
1here was n growing impression TO-.
uay that II the Entente can be worked
out satisfactorily Japan would not in.
sist upon her request for 20 prr cent
ratio OF capital ships. as against the 80
per cent suggested in tho American pro.
s~fnclusfon of FranCc Significant
Inc incIuSiop.0f France m tho pre-.
hhminary negotiations for che. Entente
mas attracted special interest. Il has
not beep disclosed whether the terms Of
the. proposed agreement would hr of 4
nature to satisfy Franco with reference
70 her. situation in Europe or whether
tne Eptente would merely 10 n regional
accord affecting the Far East.
ut is understood that thN draft Of the
entente has been prepared with Sucrinl
reference to the Tnli"d State, causti.
,tuuonal system under which the Senate
mas Lhe treaty making power.
Whiie formal sessions uf the Cnnfnr.
ence and its sub divisions were Svs-
pended today during the recess unit,
wednesday, for most Of the dclceatcS
~ was not day Of rest "Informal'
discussions between individuals and
groups are becoming increasingly prom.
lnent as the negotiations reach more
advanced stage.
Continue Shantung Talks
In addition to these exchanges. thn
recess affords opportunity for Speeding
up the work Of the several sub commit.
tees appointed by the Far Eastern Com
mittee TO study specific question rclut-
ing to China, including the tariff Situa-
tlon and Chin0's request for withdrawal
OF foreign troops on her soil. and also
the special conference between the dele.
gates of that country and Jarau on the
Shantung controversy
Today's session of that conference will
resume discussion of the question of
control of the ShantUng railway upon
which there was Il preliminary exchange
Of views Friday.
Extension Of the Chinese ConSort!rm,
or Its development into n more rOmnrc-
hensive agreement. such as the quad
ruple entente, was suggested last night
by unofficial Japanese a. suitable
and practicable substitute for fhp An
glo-Japanesa alliance. Mutual aUro-
rs. 1,aN ~
Great Britain is viewed as one Of the
possibilities of the present Conference.
As put forward here, the suggestion
was that the consortum he developed
or merged into general political agree
ment. The idea was based. its pro-
ponents explained. on the contention
that any definite political agreement az
to the Far East, including especially
China, must in the period Of world
reconstruction give way to. or be built
upon, economic essentials.
Economic Agreement Vital
In other words. it is contended that
keen economic rivhlries affect political
stability and are liable to create fric-
tion and serious disputes, necess!taing
conciliatory conferences from time to
time of the contending parties. That. it
is pointed ont, comedies with President
Harding's suggestion for continued
conferences and might form the basis
of n practical inter understanding.
The Chinese four Power consortiun
Of October II, 1920. specifically de-
clares that the national groups COM
posing il believe the interests Of the
Chinese people can bert be served Wy
co-operative action III procuring for the
Chinese Government the capital neces-
sary for a program Of economic re.
construction and improved cnmmuni-
cations. 1t is remarked that par
ticular political Importance attaches TO
the agreement because the Powers We're
able to make fairly definite arrange
ments with Jaran concerning the 50.
called specia interests q japan in
South Mnnruuria and Eastern Inner
Mongolia.
The arrangement was concluded
after n visit to Japan of Thomas W
Lamont. representing the American
group OF bankers, who succeeded IN
obtaining the withdrawal of the Japa.
nese objection to the inclusion of Muu.
churia and Mongolia in h" scope Of
the consortium.