The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1921-12-22
Powers AGREE
ON PACIFIC PACT
Substitute for AngIo-IapaneSe
Alliance Lacks Only Approval
of United States.
WORLD PEACE IS THE AIM
Mediation Is Provided-No Military
Feature-Signatorie to Respect
but Not Guarantee Terri
tcraI Rights.

observation-disclosures to the four
power agreement among the United
States, Great Britain, Japan and
France, which is to take the place Of
the Anglo-Japanese alliance, was
pledged by the representatives of the,
four powers at a public session of the
Conference on Limitation Of Arma-
ment.
This was made possible by the for
NAL acceptance by Japan through Ca
bles from Toxic and by France in ca
bles from Paris Britain and the Unit
ed States already had signifed ac--
ceptance of the agreement
The agreement will accomplish sew
eral things, one of which, the eIimina-
tion Of the Anglo-Japanese alliance.
was one of the most intense desires of
the Harding administration with re-
speCt to the conference. 1t will also
be move a long way in the direction
Of the much discussed Harding asS0-
citation Of nations. It definitely pledges
the nations involved as to conditions in
the Far East and the Pacific and pro-
vides for period Of discussion over
any controversy which may. arise with
respect to that part of the world iH-
the future.
The second big Stcp-the agreement
on the naval armament limitation plan
laid down by Mr.. Hughes at the con-
vening Of the conference.-the come
in the near future. There is no doubt
about agreement on the big phase OF
this questionable J-J-3 ratio-having
been reached some time ago, but the
details of this compact on naval reduC-
ton are so complicated that all the
wrinkles have not yet teen smoothed
out
As for the last several lays, the two,
points which still are under discussion
final conclusions not having been
reached-are Shantung and fortifica-
tons in the western Pacific islands. 5
Discussions on Shantung are going
on constantly, and progress is I'M
doubtedly being made. With respect
To fortifcations. while no vigorous
differences has arisen no 60f-'to DO
ciSiOn is expected to be presented al
once to the conference.
The desire Of the japanese is that
the United States should not establish
any naval bases in thu Far East and
should not construct additional for
tifcati0ns in that part Of the world
This contention by the Japanese is
made with tremendous vigor not only
from their own national standpoint,
but from the political ngle of the ma
iority party in Japan.
The leaders of this party are ex-
tremely anxious to present the results
of the Washington conference to their
people in such light that it will be
accepted even if not approved, and so
as to avoid sharp criticisms from the
minority party. II is for that reason,
almost as much as from their desire to.
see the aspirations of Japan achieved,
that they would like the United States
to recognize their mandates in the
MarsAl and caroline Islands and
their title to Taiwan.
A curious development is that the.
first news of it came from Viyiani
head of the French delegation. For
hours it was impossible to confirm the
fact that the session would be held in
any other quarter
This gave rise to a report that IT
was the failure of the French consent
to the quadrilated agreement to arrive
earlier which had held up formal an
nouncement of its acceptance. AS a
matter of fact the French were very
much pleased, some days ago. that
they had been included in the agree
ment, and they had not expressed the
slightest opposition to it.
This formal elimination of the An
alliance, which has stood.
certainly next to the Irish situation. as
the most potent obstacle to a cordial
understanding between the United
States and the British empire, is wei
coined most cordially by all the gov
ernmentS concerned.