The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1921-12-17
PLEDGE AGAINST WAR OVER PA.
cIFIc MATTERs-ro NAVE
COOLING OFF PERIODS"
TONE OF OPTIMISM
FAR EAST pRoeLEMs AND NAVAL
RATIOS MAY be WORKED
OUT TOGETHER.
t~~..r. Newspaper rnls. Nee, s.rls.,

WashIngton.-A mutual pledge not
to 20 to war over disputes in tile
Pacific without II cooling off period"
OF discussion Is the basis of the new
four-p0wer treaty proposed MS sub
stitute for the Anglo-Japnnese alli-
ance.
Discussions of the proposals among
arms delegates are well advanced, al
though none of the governments con-
cerned--the United States, Great Brit
ain, Japan and France-have given
finnl approval. A suggestion that the
AnglO-JapaDese pact be revoked Inns
gone 10 London and Toxic. Possible
controversies over the Pacific Islands,
exclusive of the Hawaiian group and
Yap. would come under the new agree
ment- zap is to he the subject OF u
separate treaty, negotiations for which
are nearing completion, and Hawaii is
to be considered part Of the American
mainland.
Problems of China or other portions
OF the Asiatic mainland are not to be
touched by The proposed treaty. nor
will 1t contain provisions relating to
Pacific Qualifications or the naval re-
ductiOn program. 1t Is possible, how.
ever, that all of these questions may
come simultaneously TO the point Of a
decision. BY the American delegates,
the project is regarded as establishing
neither an alliance nor an entente. but
merely applying to the Pacific islands
the principle Of the thIrty-Odd Bryan
peace treaties to which the United
States Is party. A public statement
setting forth that position probably
will be made In the near future by
Secretary Hughes.
For the present. the authorized
American Spokesman prefer to say
nothing about their conversations
which have been proceeding behind
the curtain Of executive sessions"
Apparently. the negotiations have
been kept within narrow circle cen.
tering In the big three"-Hughes.
Balfour and Kato.
An evidence Of optimism with which,
high American officials view the gen
eral situation In the conference was
given by President Harding, who de.
clared in an address that the negotia.
lions promised to succeed beyond our
fondest hopes" He predicted that the
conference would usher In new day
In international amity.
All outward Indications point to. n
merging Of the Pacific questions with
the naval ratio problem NO far a. the
final decisions Of some foreign nations
are concerned. No reply from Toxic
regarding the naval plan Is expected
until the Japanese government Is ready
to make some expression on the four
power proposal. II Is possible that In
the final analysis, the questions Of
Shantung and China generally may
also become interviewer In the general
scheme before definite settlement Is
reached.
Thus, II would not surprise close OBJ
servers II the whole range Of contro-
versles were gathered under one un-
Outstanding, to be transplanted then
Into several formal Instruments of
agreement.
Both japanese and Chinese reflected
optimism over the Shantung negOtia.
tons after another meeting In which
apan offered to give up the public
property In the leased territory of Kia-
oclow as another step toward meeting
Chinese position.