The Cordova daily times., 1921-12-29


 r The settlement of the status of China, with an assurance of the preservation of the sov- ignty and territorial integrity of that vast republic is of prime importance to America The people of this country believe that the only serious danger of war involving the United States arises from the imperialstc ambitions of Japan, swiftly growing mill taristic and navalistc nation, with strong de- signs on territorial expansion, as evidenced by the developments of recent years on the Asatic mainland. The determination of the United States to prevent unlimited Asiatc lmmi grafton, the resentment of that policy by Japan, the growth of Japanese population in Hawaii, in Mexico, Central America and South America, all combined to create situation under which war between Japan and the Unit cd States has been a subject of general thought sand discussion Thoughtful Americans be ieved that if Japan were given opportunity to dominate and exploit China, with all her rich resources and huge population, We would within a few years confront real menace on the Pacific, one from which we could not escape by retreat. =.
 At the conclusions of the Washington con ference there will have been an agreement of the powers, including Japan, upon the future of China, confirming necessarily some wrongs of the past, but correcting those done during and since the war, and establishing beyond challenge the independence of China. Addi- tionaI vitality will be given these agreements by the program of future conferences of the powers with periodical settlements in detail of questions that may arise involving intcrprc tations of the general policy agreed upon.
 The United States has relationship to and concern in Pacific problems diftprn- greatly from our relationship to and concern in European problems. If the United Statc- possessed peninsula and stretch of island, reaching across the North Atlantic to within d few score miles of the European mainland, and if we owned 3,IOO islands just off the continent of Europe, occupying the same roIa tive position as the British Isles, We could not escape from implication in European affairs, That is our position in the Pacific Our shore
 line on the North Pacific iS far greater than that of any other power, bordering il from San Diego to within sight of Siberia, and again throughout the great length of the Philippine archipelago. There are those who believe that the great future of American cross ocean commerce k in the Pacific basin
 no NIIldll IblIl bl II III Nllllld, Nlt lllt Hjc' States, because of the record it has made in international affairs, iS the oTc nation trusted by people of tremendous possibilities.
 Taken in connection with the reduction of armament program and the agreements rrIa tive to China, the four power treaty, in it's practical effect greatly Icsscns if it does not
 'utrrIv eliminate the danger of war involving the United States. Within the ten years period of the treaty, it is inconc"ivablr that trouble will arise in the Pacific basin not pre- 'ipitatcd by one of the four powers which are parties to it; the invoking of Article II. with its pledge of an attempt to reach an agreement aS to joint or separate action. seems most rem0t" possibility. Should fl hc invoked, however, are bound only 10 communicate with the other powers fully and frankly as to tn" most efficient measures 10 he taken, jointly and separately, to meet the rXi&cncicS of the particular situation. There is not the slightest suggestion of compulsion on the United States to accept maioritv decision on this point, and no super govern mcnt, alliance association is created with any power to act except through the voun- tary cooperation of every Signatory nation. By this treaty agree to keep our hands off the property of other nations in the Pacific evolving America, Great Britain, France or
 Iapas, and in case of attack against any of