The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-12-09

bassy had long conversation with Presi-
dent Harding on "Wednesday at the White
House. Since he * not an official dele
gate, Mr.. Mochizuki talks with less re-
Straint. His conception of what is ahead
in the conference is based of course upon
intimate relationship not only with the
japanese delegation here but upon cable
information from Japan.
Change in Plan.
This correspondent has checked up
some of the views expressed by Mr.. Moch
izuki and finds from American sources
that the political situation in Japan is
as much responsible for the new tum
which the program has taken as any
thing else. Originally it will be remem-
bered the apparent unanimity of opinion
on the naval proposals led to the belief
that a separate agreement would be
signed on that phase of armament ire
Spective of what happened about the
other questions on the agends. Both the
Americans and the japanese were ready.
Some criticism was heard about the policy
of the American delegation being ready
ont knowing what the rest of the program
in the Pacific would be- This corre-
Spondeut stated then that the United
States government had confident aSsur-
anccS that the Anglo-Japanese alliance
would not be renewed Coincidentally.
however. the American pressure for an
acceptance of the J-5-3 naval ratio de
velOped a delicate situation for the Jap
aneSe cabinet which has hoped for an
opportunity to prevent any appearance
of conCeding to the American view. The
suggestion of a general agreement cover
ing all the points being discussed in the
Washington conference was seized upon
rs the way out. Hence the Japanese are
ready to accede to the naval ratio ON
battleships and plenary session will be
held in a few days to announce that fact
but the decision reached will not be effec-
tive until on agreement has been made
on other points.
The Present Formula.
The formula is for all the nations to
agree step by step. TO the battleship ratio,
submarines the Notification question,
and Far Eastern problems and later 10
embOdy all the separate memoranda into
a single agreement covering the whole
/ business. This project was discussed BY
/ the principal delegates and has led to talk
of a four-power agreement. The fact Is
that the four-power idea arose quite
| naturally ont of the American mode of
procedure in proposing reduction of the
navieS of Great Britain. Japan and the
\ United States. Then it was determined
/ that since France had fortifcations in the
\ Far East. she too. had been included in
any pledge to refrain from increasing
naval bases or armament in the Pacific.
] The plan now is to have these four powers
sign the memorandum with respect to
naval matters and then submit 1t for APP
Iproval TO the other powers especially con-
cerned with Far Eastern questions be-
cause one of the cardinal points in the
Il final agreement Will be the settlement of
L Chinese affairs. In other words il will
| start with a fOur-power or possibly a
i five-power agreement on armament and
/ will be extended to nine-pOwer agree
oil arfal r
ern questions. There is a chance that
Italy viii be included in the first naval
Il agreement though il would be purely a
Y courtesy request for the Italians don
Il possess naval strength in the Pacific.
VIII BE 4 Convention"
The final agreement as at present con-
templated would not be a treaty in the
technical sense but convention and
/ would not have 10 be ratified by the SEN
ate since it is construed by President
II Harding as an understanding. On the
II other hand il it should finally be decided
II to include some provision requiring the
signatory powers to agree not to make
war on each other unless period OF nine
II months shall eapSe for investigation of
L the dispute. then the document would IN
volye obligations and would have TO
/ be submitted to the senate for ratltca-
II ton. The latter idea is still only a gem
era suggestion without any final author
u ity back of it though British. Japanese
and French delegates are ready to accept
/ il and have talked it over. The United
II States has such an investigation treaty
H with Great Britain. France, Italy and
about - other nations but not with
Japan. When it comes to discussion
of this point Mr. Mochizuki hints that
the Japanese delegation may ask for a
Ireaffirmation of the Root-Takahira agree
ment, the Lansing Ishii agreement and
/ the arbitration treaty originally negoti
ated between the United States and
i japan. He believes the Anglo-Japanese
Il alliance will be automatically abrogated
/ by the convention agreed upon at the
Il Washington conference.