The New York herald., 1921-07-11

men are understood 10 rear reopen
ing the question In view OF the posi-
bility that she may be compelled te
revise her claims made at Versailles
In this connection 1t is recalled
that Secretary OF State Hughes has
insisted in all his public statements
that the United States has not sacri
feed any rights IL may have obtained
because of It's participation in the
war and as one of the co-victors over
Germany. The fact that the United
States has not ratified the treaty OF
Versailles, giving Shantung to Japan,
nor has approved the mandates by
which Japan acquired the former
German islands in the Pacific north
of the equator necessarily leaves all
these questions open.
The letter addressed by Secretary
Hughes to the Chinese Minister in
Washington last Friday, in which he
reiterated the principle of the open
door and insisted that this country
ment which recognized the special in
terests of any nation in China indi-
Gates a bias which is not being over
looked by the Japanese observers.
From the outset Of his administra-
ton President Harding and his Secre-
tary of State have recognized the mag
nitude of the Pacific problem and the
necessity Of solving it so that the re-
curing possibilities of war in that
region might be removed
In order to arrive at the present sit
uation much of a preliminary nature
had to be done. The unsatisfactory
peace arrangements at Versailles -
peace which the Senate refused to ap-
prove-had left the world in disorder.
and the United States found itself in
a state OF splendid isolation" which
was distinctly dangerous. League
of Nations had been formed which as
sumed to exercise super-governmental
functions, and which was disposing of
the territories OF the world under the
guise of mandates without consulting
the American Government. The United
States remained in a state Of war with
Germany while its rights were recog-
nized nowhere. --
The balance of power had been dis
turbed by the creation OF huge
vacuum, which once represented Ger
MANY and Russia, and into this vacuum
iv1cr
chaos.
Work for Hughes and Harvey.
It was TO grapple with this problem
that Mr. Hughes assumed the Office OF
Secretary of State George Harvey was
accredited as Ambassador to London
with the view Of conducting the per-
sonal negotiations with the representa-
tives Of the British and other allied Gov
ernrnents that might be necessary.
The FIRST step was the declaration OF
the retention of American rights grow
ing out of the war In the identical notes
addressed to the Powers. which stripped
off the camouhage clustering about
japan 5 cialill 10 tNciuSiNe JufiSuiOhioh
over the Island of Yap. The next steps
were:
Public disapproval of the League Of
Nations through Ambassador Harvey.
support of the allied Powers in the Ger
man reparations settlement, the decision
20 participate in the deliberations of the
allied Supreme Council and accomplish
naent Of the peace with Germany by
Congressional resolution.
During all this time the Government
OF the United States has been meeting
each problem as It arose. but with the
view of larger settlement in the end.
1t is now an open secret that the time
when this aim was nearing accomplish
ment II was threatened with destruction
by the proposal TO renew the Anglo
japanese alliance which public senti-
ment of this country has regarded with
ill-concealed suspicion. II was recog-
nized as a bar TO any agreement to
disarmament and out of harmony with
the purposes OF this Government rela-
tive TO a new association Of nations to
be guided by international law admins
tered through the medium of a world
court.
This immediate problem was forced to
a focus by the conference which the
British Government has been holding
with its dominion Premiers. Ambassa-
dor Harvey, in his Fourth Of July
speech. made II clear that the Anglo
Japanese alliance was regarded as a
dangerous move so far as international
peace is concerned. He boldly called
attention to the danger existing in the
Pacific and hinted at the solution which
the President aims 70 procure through
the international conference.
London Lifts Lid on News.
While the State Department has been
extremely reticent before to-day con-
cerning the informal negotiations that
have been In progress, the news de-
spatches from London declaring Pre-
mier Lloyd George expected to be able
10 make an important announcement to
Parliament on Monday following receipt
OF Information from the United States,
Japan and China, forced the acknowi-
edgment that very informal conversa-
tions" had been In progress. II Is
evident that this premature London an
nouncement interfered with what was
going on. II may have precipitated
President Hardings announcement at
this time.
AS President Harding's foreign policy
Is unfolding II is clear that he and
secretary Hughes havo a far reaching
constructive programme In mind. II In
wolves not only repair of the shreds and