Evening star., 1921-12-08
FOUR-POWERPACT
ACCEPTED IN TOXIC;
| DELAY 553 ACTION
Separate Agreement Likely
to Settle Pacific Fortifica.
tion Issue.
NAVAL RATIO ACCEPTANCE
BOUND CLOSE TO TREATY
Problems Likely to Be Taken Up
IN Form of Six Individual
Settlements,
by the Associated Press.

by the Associat ted Press.
Ihe eight powers represented In
the Tar east committee OF the
Washington conference today admit
Cd resolution agreeing not 10
enter into any treaties or UNDER
standings among themseIves that
would impair the four Root reso-
IutiOns concerning China.
The resolution covers point No.
OF the Chinese ten points in n
modified form. according to the
Chinese delegates.
The resolution as adopted by the
far eastern committee, 1t was ex-
planned, was declaratory of q priD-
ciple against extension by foreign
nations OF further special spheres
OF fnhuence or or leased territory.
The committee adjourned today
until next Saturday. to give the
Jnpanese and Chinese delegates
further unhampered time for the
separate Shantung negotiations.
While the proposal for a four-pow-
er Pacific arrangement is gaining in
creased support, evidences are devel-
oping that other factors in the arms
conference are shaping up toward the
point of definite treaties or under
standings"
The latest situation to take promi-
nence in the discussions is that re-
lating to Notifications and naval
bases in the Pacific. There are init
nations that although that subJec.
will not be treated in the four-power
treaty, it probably will be settled by
a separate treaty or some other form
of internationa agreement
Accepted in Principle.
The British delegates understand
that the Japanese government, like
the British, has accepted the four
power plan in principle. but that
further word is awaited from Toxic
in regard to the naval ratio and for
tifications before any of the several
elements of the negotiations is
pressed to a conclusion.
The actual status of the situa tioB
still is closely guarded, but the out
ward signs suggest that the couver-
sations are tending toward these sep
arate agreements:
A treaty by which the United
States, Great Britain, Japan and
France will agree to a cooling off
period of discussion before going
to war over disputes arising in the
islands of the Pacific. Hawaii is not
to be in any way affected by the
treaty.
A treaty or understanding relative
to the limitation of future fortifica-
nd vol hos IN, l,n arf6
From the provisions of this arrange
ment, too, Hawaii is to be omitted.
Treaty on 5-5-3 Ratio.
A treaty or other agreement re-
lating only to the 5-5-3 naval ratio
and other questions Immediately con-
cerned in the naval reduction pro-
gram.
A joint declaration of principle by
all the nations represented here with
regard to the future of China.
A treaty in which the United States
and Japan will be the principals set
Ting the debated questions of the
German island of Yap.
An agreement between Japan and
China relating to the province of
Shantung.
In the minds of the japanese. at
least, all of these six elements seem
to be linked together. despite the fact
that they are to be dealt with in the
end by entirely separate agreements.
Tokio's Decision May Be Delayed.
The first three. relating to the four
power arrangement the Pacific forti-
fications and the naval ratio, are
said to be regarded by several of the
governments concerned as partic-
ularly rnterdependent. As a conse-
uuence. a final decision as to Japan's
attitude toward any one of the ques-
tions may be delayed until she is
ready to make a settlement involving
all of them. 1t is regarded generally
as certain she will take no final posi-
tion with regard to the naval ratio.
the Pacific fortifications or the four
power agreement until she is pre-
pared to act on all three propositions.