New-York tribune., 1921-12-12

high contracting powers to enforce re-
spect for the sovereignty, independence
or territorial or administrative in
tegrity of China. 1t knows nothing Of
China's existence. 1t relates specifi-
cally to the rights Of the four con-
tractants "in relation to their lnsulnr
possessions and insular dominions.'
>Giyes China No New Rights
What these rights are may afford a
subject for debate; but it is clear that
China, not being one of the contracting
powers, cannot claim any rights under
this treaty, in which she is not even
named Nor, in fact, can China, al
though she possesses rights as SOW
ercign and Independent power, which it
is declared to be the firm intention"
of the powers to respect see in this
resolution anything more than dec
iaration of friendly purposes. There
is in this resolution no intimation of
forcible restraint. Its value to China
is fully expressed in the Interpretation
given it by Secretary Hughes, when he
says:
at is, in truth, charter Of assur-
ance to China Of protection from acts
of derogation of her sovereignty and
independence and administrative auton-
omy, and also an assurance that as
between the powers there shall be Il
careful observance of the principle of
free and equal opportunity in matters
relating to China, and that no one will
seek special advantages or privileges
at the expense or the rights of others"
To this assurance the powers are all
separately in honor pledged.
A more fundamental question is:
What are the rights of the powers in
relation to their insular possessions
and insular dominions which the four
powers reciprocally agree to respect :?
Where is a definition, or an inventory,
or d consensus of views on this sub
ject TO be found? Or will they, after
the treaty is ratified, still be matters
of debate to be settled by subsequent
agreem ments?
1t would appear that, unless excep-
tons are specified before the ratifica-
ton of the treaty. that document will
be Of itself the conservation Of tho
status quo at the time it is ratified.
If this is so, there are immense In
terests at stake in the Pacific Oceans
and by any Interpretation Of the treaty
would subsequently extend its appli-
cation to China, immense interests,
particularly for China, would be at
stake there also. Does the treaty.
without exception, place the seal of
approval upon all that has happened
in the past? Does it confirm all the
secret treaties and all the mandates
regarding the Pacific Ocean upon which
rights" may be based!
1t is, of course, impossible at this
time to answer these questions. There
are still important matters to be de-
cided, and some of these are in proc
ess of negotiation. The full meaning
and effect of the four-power treaty
cannot, therefore, at this time be de-
termined.
Question of Fortiiications
Among the questions to be decided
is that of the future right to fortify
islands in the Pacific, and perhaps also
that of new naval bases and the main
tenance Of old ones, for the two are
closely interrelated. For naval de-
fense bases are as important as fleets,
for the efficiency of capital ships 10
not less an element of effectiveness
than their number. Here the status
quo is of prime importance. Such ad-
vantagea as fortified bases cannot.
therefore, be justly denied to some
and allowed to others. In the expecta-
tion of peace it would, no doubt, be
thought inconsistent to prepare for
war; but one nation cannot be expected
TO refrain while others in the same
field of action lay stress upon the forces
for defense and retain the results
! of their earlier foresight and activity.
These are, however, technical ques-
tions which can be properly dealt with
only by those who fully comprehend
them. But even the layman should un-
derstand that an engagement that in
wolves the acceptance of an existing
situation should take into very care
full consideration the elements that
enter into it.
We await, therefore, with great in
terest the further negotiations that
are already in progress, confident that,
in the light Of what has already been
accomplished, President Harding's
method of seeking peace through mu.
tual understanding will open q new
pathway to better international rela-
tions.