New-York tribune., 1921-12-10

Toxic Cables Acceptance
of Agreement in Far
East That Eliminates
Anglo-Japanese Treaty
Early Approval of
Navy Cut Forecast
No Serious Obstacle Seen
in Deliberations Over
Defenses and Shantung
By Carter Field

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9.-Adher-
ence to the four-power agreement
among the United States, Great
Britain, Japan and France, which is
to take the place of the Anglo-Japa-
nese alliance, will be pledged by the
representatives of the four powers
at public session of the Conference
on the Limitation of Armament to
be held at II o'clock tomorrow
morning.
This was made possible to-day by
the formal acceptance by Japan
through cables from Toxic and by
France in cables from Paris. Britain
and the United States already had
signified acceptance of the agree
ment.
The agreement which will be made
tomorrow will accomplish several
things, one of which, the elimination
of the Anglo-Japanese alliance, was
one Of the most intense desires of
the Harding Administration with re-
spect to the conference. It will also
be move long way in the direc-
tion of the much discussed Harding
association Of nations. 1t definitely
pledges the nations involved as to
conditions in the Far East and the
Pacific and provides for a period of
discussion over any controversy
which may arise with respect to that
part Of the world in the future.
Ready to Agree on Navies
The second big step-the agreement
on the naval armament limitation plan
laid down by Mr.. Hughes at the con-
vening of the CONFERENCE.-THE come in
the near future. There is no doubt
about agreement on the big phase of
this questionable 5-5-3 ratio-having
been reached some time ago, but the
details of this compact on naval re-
duction are so complicated that all the
~T-inkles have not yet been srlocthed
out
AS for the last several days. the two
points which still are under discus
sion-fnal conclusions not having been
reached-are Shantung and fortitica
tions in the western Pacific islands
Discussions on Shantung are going
on constantly. and progress is undoubt
edly being made. With respect to for
tifications, while nc vigorous difference
has, arisen, no definite decision is ex-
pected to be presented at once to the
conference.
The desire of the Japanese is that
the United States should not estab
lish any naval bases in the Far East
and should not construct additional
fortifications in that part Of the world.
This contention by the Japanese is
made with tremendous vigor not only
from their own national standpoint,
but from the political angle of the ma
jority party in Japan.
The leaders of this party are ex-
tremely anxious to present the results
of the Washington conference TO their
people in such light that it will be ac-
cepted even if not approved, and SO as
to avoid sharp criticisms from the mi
nority party. 1t is for that reason,
almost as much as from their desire
to see the aspirations of Japan
achieved, that they would like the
United States to recognize their man
dates in the Marshall and Caroline ISL
ands and their title to Taiwan.
Viviani Announces Decision
A curious development about the ses-
sion tomorrow is that the first news
of it came from Viviani, head of the
French delegation, after nightfall. For
hours it was impossible to confirm the
fact that the session would be held in
any other quarter.
This gave rise to q report tonight
that it was the failure of the French
consent to the quadrilateral agree
ment to arrive earlier which had held
up formal announcementof it's accept
ance. AS a matter of fact the French
were very much pleased, some days ago,
that they had been included in the
agreement, and they had not expressed
the slightest opposition to it,
This ormal elimination of the An
glo-Japanese alliance, which has stood.
certainly next to the Irish situation.
as the most potent obstacle to cor
dial understanding between the United
States and the British Empire, is wei
coined most cordially by all the gov
ernments concerned.
As "A British spokesman here put it
shortly after the conference convened,
the clauses in the Anglo-Japanese AL
lance to which the United States OBJ
jected, and to which for that very rea-
son the dominions objected. had be-
come obsoiescent, anyhow The Japan
csc realized this, and the press of
Japan, according to cable advices re-
ceived by the delegation here this
week, has been almost unanimous ir
the view that the alliance was dead
anyhow, and it might as we'll be pro-
claimed as dead if any good would be
accomplished thereby.
So in one understanding that the
Irish question is really settled-the
two greatest political objections, and
the one great national objection. to
cordial agreement on world policies
between this ..sa~ernment and that Of
Great Britain have been removed.
Tipiar.i Insists France