Pueblo chieftain., 1921-12-24


tionally put into the treaty differ
ept meaning.
There was and is a good deal If
surprise that President Harding had
not learned before just what had been
intended by the conference in writing
the treaty. The conclusion was clear.
of courAe, that President Harding not
only had not happened to be familiar
with this particular detail of the work
of the conference, but also had not
happened to read the newspaper dis
cusslon about the inclusion of the
japanese homeland. That is all there
is to that part of the episode.
Subsequent to all this. the point
was raised as to why Senator Lodge
in his public speech, when he first
introduced the treaty to the public. and
commented on it, had failed to point
out that the Japanese homeland was
Included. In several quarters there
was a disposition. either seriously, or
in humor to charge Senator Lodge
with lack of good faith. In this there
is nothing whatever. Those who don't
want to rely on Senator Lodges in
tellectual integrity. can at least rely
or his in.> lligence. There wasn't the
faiutest possibility OF his slipping
something over in a political sense
even If he had wanted to. He knew
perfectly well that the language of
the treaty would be made the subject
of microscopic examination through
long days of senate debate.
The present writer heard Senator
Lodges speech, and watched him close
ly as he delivered it. 1t was perfectly
apparent that he was proud as a pig
con over the distinction OF rea ding the
treaty and making speech about IT,
and equally apparent that the two
things he did in the speech were the
two things that are characteristic of
him. He used it an opportunity
to take a nasty wallop at his particular
ohsession, the league OF nations. and
ss chance to give an admirinE pub
lie glimpse into the literary crudi-
tion OF which he is not a little proud
We all have the laugh on Senator
Lodge now for having given up so
many lovely quotations from the
poetry of Browning. and from Steven
son, and Melville, about the beautiful
isles of tho Pacific. when less ornate
man might have used the opportunity
for more serious discussion of the
meaning of the treaty.
Why Japan Was Included.
So much for that part OF it. Now as
to the merits OF the heart of the ques-
tion. 1t is a fact thar the four power
treaty gives the same protection to the
home islands OF Japan that is gives
to the smaller Islands of the Pacific.
But the inference that this gives to
Japan the sort OF guarantee that We
refuse to France is quite grotesauc.
Equally untrue and grotesaue is the
assumption. on which most of the cx-
oitement is based. that the homeland
of Japan was included in order TO do
favor to Japan.
The fact that 1t vas done. not at the
request or on the initiative of Japan.
but rather more on the initiat tive of the
United States. It seems that America
r,f ~ Inn
for Hawaii and in order to get IT. it
was necessary to use language that
also covered the home islands of
Japan. Just why this is SO involves a
minute examination of the constitu-
tional status of Hawaii. for which
there is no room in this article. II
Will all come out later. There werc
additional sons. but this wish of
tho United States figured among them.
I strongly suspect that Japan would
prefer not to have the condition which
is now widely discussed as an unde-
sirable concession to her. I think II
only happened because at the moment
the Japanese delegates were not quite
familiar enough with the English Ian
EusKe 10 understand fully all the
things that the language OF the treaty
conveys. 7 suspect the condition in ef-
feet will be an embarrassment to
Japan rather than an asset. and !
should not be surprised to see Japan
try to take some action to get 1t
changed.
the present language OF the treaty
stands, and even II !, is changed. has
great Importance in its bearing on
the question of ratification by the sem
ate. It gives to Senator Borah a po-
litical opening big enough for forty
horses to sailop thru. What Senator
Rorah can ask. and ask effectively, is
why conference for the limitation OF
armament should have been cluttered
UP with all these complications about
the island. of the Pacific anyhow. The
agitation which Senator Borah led. and
which had much to do with bringing
the Conference about. was for srma
ment limits ton solely.
II was in Difference to Great Britain
that the question of the Far East was
included. and 1t was this that led to
the present complexities and confusions
which threaten the simple purpose Al
reducing and limiting armament. 1t
all gives Borsh and other senator's an
effective talking point. The sensational
manner in which the inclusion of the
Japanese homeland came out adds to
the opportunities of opposition.
Tho. concluding truth. however. Ia
that any ono who follows this confer
.nce closely must be q strange per-
son II he fails to .rve symps ,hetic
understanding to the difficulties in
herent in it, and to the enormous bur-
den Of work on the shoulders of
Hughes. Harding. and all the others.
This is precisely III. moment for re-
sponsible persons TO remember wha {
Hughes has 40 often said. namely, that
We can't get anywhere without the
helpful will for peace. There VIII he
plenty of chance to cure any mistake
that may have been made.
Copyright, 1921. by the New York
Post. 1nc)
eighty dollars placed to his or her ac-
count in that institution.
E-oilowipr ia tho Composition.