Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-09-26
United States, Britain and
Japan VIII Enter Confer
ence, With Fixed Policy
COMPROMISE LIKELY
Three issues Before Washington,
London And Toxic Governments
Fer Consideration

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Washington, Sept. 26.-Each Of the
principal powers will enter the Con-
ference on Limitation of Armaments
and Far Eastern Questions with
clearly defined line Of maximum con-
cassions. according to best diplomatic
information in Washington. Each will
have a fixed policy to support, more
emphasized perhaps in the cases OF
Great Britain, Japan and the United
States, respecting national defense
and economic security.
AS viewed officially, Great Britain
will seek to maintain her naval sup
premacy; Japan will insist upon
guaranteed egress for her overflow
ing population in contiguous regions,
a free flow from Asia of raw mater
ials for her industries and freedom
from military menace, while the
United States will insist upon the
abrogation Of the Anglo-Japanese al
lance and equality Of opportunity tor
American trade and investments IN
China.
1t is generally assumed that po!iti~
cal considerations will dominate the
conference, and that such agreements
as may be reached viii be effected
through compromise, whereby IN
fundamental sense every country rep
resented would yield its ultimate right
to resort to force to obtain special or
exclusive advantage in such countries
as China and Siberia, in order TO Sc
cure the benefit Of an international
guaranty Of economic and political
security.
The several governments are think
ing in terms Of peace, realizing that
any fresh war between two OF the
great powers, with the possibility of
general war. would throw back the
nations even farther than did the war
with the Central Empires in addition
to exposing to the danger of dlssolu-
ton or to partition the very territories
the preservation of whose integrity
is the prime object Of the Washington
conference.
1t is also accepted that, before an
agreement can be reached on the ques-
ton Of limiting armaments, deter
minaton must be reached on those
subjects held to be vital by each
power concerned and involving in
forests the protection of which has re-
suited in the maintenance OF large
military and naval establishments.
It is generally agreed that the
British Government must make sub
stantial concessions to the United
States if the British hope to secure
Americas assent to the maintenance
of the relative standing OF the British
and American navies. Two consldera-
tions are being discussed in that con-
nection. The first is a formal pledge
that the British will not fortiiy any
of her possessions in the Caribbean
Sea. This includes the Island Of Ja-
maica, the fortification of which the
United States would view with gem
uine concern.
A second consideration is the pro-
posed abandonment by Great Britain
and Japan of the Anglo-Japanese al
lance and the substitution therefor
Of tripartite agreement defining the
situation in the Pacific and the reg
ions of Eastern Asia, respecting the
! interests of each and guaranteeing
The integrity Of these respective inter-
ests, without, however, pledging either
to go to war in support of the threat
ened rights of another.
A third issue which might be eX-
pected to come up in some definite
! form is a possible revision of the
Hay-Paunceforte treaty allowing the
United States undisputed disposa! of
the Panama Canal, including tolls
regulation.
1t is the conviction of many we'll
| informed authorities here that Japan
desires an understanding with the
| United States more than she does the
renewal Of the Anglo-Japanese al
| lance.
In this connection, it is believed
that a proposal will be made that If
the United States pledge itself not to
fortify Guam or the Philippines, Japan
will meet the wishes Of America re-
garding both China and Siberia.
The fortifcation Of Hawaii would
not be involved. it is assumed, any
more than the fortiication of the Jap
anese islands themselves. Hawaii IS
indispensable to the defense of both
| the Panama Canal and the Pacific
| Coast of the United States, but Guam
and the Philippines, it is said, would
offer bases for aggressive military
operations if they should be fortified
Guam being regarded as the key to
| the Pacific.