Evening star., 1921-11-14
ANGL0-JAPAN PACT
MUST Be SCRAPPED
Success of ParIey Means
Doom Of All Far East Com
binations, Latest Belief.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

america naval proposals, as an
nounced by Secretary Hughes. are
predicted upon the confident assump-
tion that the Anglo-Japanese alliance
as well as all other military combi-
nations in the far east will be elimi-
mated.
| duce the size of its Navy. but insists
that the causes of misunderstand
ing which make navies necessary
shall be removed.
Emphasis is placed today upon the
words of Mr.. Hughes original invita-
tIon to the powers in which he says:
1T is quite clear-theFe can be no
final assurance -of the peace of the
world in the absence of the desire for
peace. and the prospect of reduced
armament is not a hopeful one un-
less thts desire finds expression in a
PRACTICAL effort to remove the causes
of Misunderstanding and to seek
ground for agreement as to principles
and their applications: it Is the ear
nest 2wish- of this government that
through an interchange of views with
the. facilities afforded by the confer
ence. IT may be possible to And a solu-
tfon of Pacific and far eastern prob
lens" s-'.
Big Issues Bound Together.
armament Is inseparably bound in the
settlement of far eastern questions
This means that before an agreement
can be reached upon the one there
must be an agreement on principles
at least affecting the far east. This
Is the crux of the conference at the
moment. for it seems likely that the
naval proposals will be accepted and.
OF course, reduction in the size of
the Navy of the United States would
a
immediate prospect of friction in the
far east.
The Japanese delegates have care
fully refrained from saying that they
would accept the American proposals
upon condition that a satisfactory
agreement is later reached upon far
eastern questions. This is truly sig
nifcant, for 1t is far more advan-
tageous for the Japanese to see the
United States committed to a small
er navy at this time than to have
held over them the lever of large
armaments If they do not-ree to
Americas suggestions on far east
ern problems.
Since the United States is. however,
not eager to see anything settled at
this time except the main principles
Of the naval program, it is probable
that nothing final will be agreed upon
which is actually binding On any Of
the nations until all the far eastern
vassed and there is prospect Of agree
ment on these matters, too.
Alliance. Must Re Wiped Out.
The United States is saying nothing
about the Anglo-Japanese alliance,
but is taking it for granted that Great
; Britain knows, as must Japan realize,
| that the American naval proposals
are Intellectual unless the alliance ia
absolutely wiped out. For a comb-
nation Of British and japanese naval
strength would violate the principle
, announced by Secretary Hughes,
namely. that. in general, regard
should be had to the existing naval
strength of the powers concerned"
, An AngloJapanese combination
would absolutely alter the ratio of
American to Japanese sea power.
There is a confidence. moreover,
conference here will be thrown into
the scales on the side of eliminating
the Anglo-Japanese alliance, for it
is reasoned there that If the United
States is rid of an immense financial
burden the business revival here can
not but help the economic situation
of Canada.
,, ceptance of MIR. Hughes proposals is
coming from all parts Of the world,
where the hope Is that an economic
revival will follow the abandonment
of useless expenditure for navies
Having made progress on the prob
lem of naval armament. however, the
next step is to bring about something
of the same spirit of concord on far
eastern questions. admitted a more
difficult task. The air is filled with
expectations OF another formula by
<%.;.,,o5 ~ Do eIo , VOII,voO