New-York tribune., 1921-12-25

more purposes chaN appeared in
the agenda formidable as that
document was. The conference
vas called primarily to repair the er
rors Of the Wilson diplomacy at Paris.
What was intended by the peace nego-
tiators to be world settlement, in
which the United States would have it's
full part, was frustrated, so far as
America was concerned by our chief
delegates insisteace on bringing home
treaty which couldn't be ratified. Our
association with the other major Allied
powers was thus severed. We had to
make separate peace with Germany.
We we're left to play lone hand in the
general readjustments which followed
the war.
This position was irksome and dam
gerous. 1t didn't accord with our status
and responsibilities as world power
The fundamental aim of President Har-
ding's foreign policy has been to renew
cooperative relations with our former
allies and to regain for the United
States the benefits of close and friendly
association with the nations which must
guarantee world peace if such peace is
to be maintained.
This policy of rapprochement was
determined on before Mr.. HARDING
was inaugurated-perhaps even before
he was elected. 1t is a mistake to
think that the call for the conference
was forced by the passage of the
Borah three-power naval reduction of
armament resolution. A real world
balance of power couldn't be estab
lished with the four permanent mem
bers OF the League of Nations Coua
ell on the one side and the United
States on the other. These four per-
manent members - Great Britain.
France, Italy and Japan-have come
to Washington to form with us a
BROADER and less cramping associ-
at;on-with no overlaid structure of
super-government- A concert of ma
tions to secure q limitation of naval
armament, to remove causes of fric-
ton in the Pacific and to give China
a larger measure of freedom and self
government has been created. This
new association is outside the Geneva
league, but not necessarily antagonistic
to it. The Geneva league will probably
tend to become more and more a Euro
pean or a European-African league.
We have now a Pacific and Eastern
Asian concert. 1t may be supplemented
shortly BY an all-American concert,
the basis for which already exists in
the Pan-American Union.
Underlying Purpose of
Conference Accomplished
The underlying purpose of the con-
ference has thus already been accom-
plished. 1t has been ACCOMPLISHED
through the four-power Pacific treaty,
through the fve-power naval limi-
tation agreement, now nearly COM
plesed, and through the eight-power
Chinese compact, which is pretty
certain to be arrived at. Action on the
particular questions grouped in the
agenda has been translated into a con-
currence in the theory that the world
can be best stabilized through direct
accords among the leading nations, ne
gotiated by the governments them
selves. The Anglo-Japanese dual alli-
ance, which is itself obnoxious to the
league covenant, has been replaced by
quadruple treaty, milder in form, to
which no assent by any super-state
body is required.
In the broad political sense this has
been the conferences greatest achieve
ment. In the way of specific, practical
adjustments within the agenda the
record of the six weeks sessions is
also amazing. The delegates started
OF at top speed. Secretary Hughes's
announcement of naval ratio on the
opening day was a master stroke. 1t
confounded the pessim and the
procrastinators. 1t put the pressure
Oh world opinion behind the laggards.
IL opened a great gulf between the
methods Of Paris and those of Wash
ington. The thrill that ran around the
globe on November ~ made this gath
efing unique among world congresses
The real work of the conference is
now nearly over. Only details have to
DC filled in. 1t is appropriate to sum
up what has been done in this brief
out crowded period.
four-Power Pacific Treaty
Is First Pact Completed
The first agreement to take final
Aerm was the four-power Pacific
treaty signed on December 10 by
me United States, Great Britain,
france and Japan. This compact was a
necessary substratum to the limita-
ION OF naval armament, the mandated
'efHtory and the Chinese settle
~eats. 1t abrogated the Anglo-Jao-
aaese alliance--the greatest single
nar to effective concer. in the Far
Hase-and created an association
''sole and powerful enough to war
rant disarming for offence and to
AheiioTate conditions in China.
ine treaty is short and may be re-
produced in full. 1t reads:
Article
ihe high contracting parties agree
IS between themselves to respect
sneir tights in relation to their in
sasar possessions and insular domin-