Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-11-19
VITAL INTERESTS
OF JAPAN WILL
NOT BE ATTACKED
Petit Parisien Correspondent
Sees This as q Fundamental
Policy of United States.
Special to Indiana Daily Times
and Philadelphia Public Ledger.
BY PHILIPPE MILLET,
Editor Petit Parlsien.

Editor PeC1G ParlSlen.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19.-America's
policy will not be uncompromising in
the Far East. The United States will
not wage a crusade against Japan. Such
is the important fact emerging from the
first debates of the committee on China
and the Pacific.
The most significant event of the first
sitting of the committee on the Pacific
was not indeed the appearance Of a mott
entirely unexpected Chinese memoran
dunn. The real interest was concentrated
on the attitude of Mr.. Hughes. Not
only was the Secretary of State CAREFUL
not to pronounce an Indictment of jap
anese policy, but Immediately after re-
calling the traditional attachment of
America to the principle of the OPEN
door in China, he recognized the special
position Japan occupies in view Of thel
geographical neighborhood of the Chinese
territory.
JAPAN'S INTERESTS
NOT THREATENED.
This important statement finally con-
firms the change perceptible from the
first day of the conference in the dispo-
sitions Of America. Further discussions
on the details are no doubt possible or
even likely. However, it is clear the
United States do not intend henceforth
to threaten any vital interests Japan
may believe to possess in the matter.
This is a cardinal point.
1t would indeed be necessary to know
what intention had been almost openly
announced by members of the American
Administration q short time before theI
conference in order to grasp the sudden
ness of this radical change A few weeks
ago the essential object of American pol
icy was to compel Japan to give up her
hold over China Today America will
content herself with presenting on thel
subject a number Of moderate recon-
mendations.
How can such a thing be explained q
Several causes are possible. The first,
which I already indicated a few daysI
ago, may be found in the pressure ex-l
erted by American public opinion which,
clearly wants limitation of naval arma-
ments and reduction in public expendi-
ture to go before any kind of political
interference in China. 1t is, however, din i
cult not to believe in the second place.
the new mood Of the American Govern
ment also is due to certain diplomatic
facts.
WANTS TO END
ALLIANCE.
The point Mr.. Hughes and all respon-
sible American statesmen had in mind
was the necessity@to bring TO an end the
Anglo-Japanese alliance which appeared
to be responsible for all imperiaHstic I'M
dertakings of Japan and China. If as al
result of the exchange of views which,
very likely has taken place between Great
Britain and the United States on the evel
of the conference, the American Govern
ment had received on this subject somel
clear assurances, the present mildness oil
America would appear less surprising.
In other words, what already has takenl
place inside the conference with regard
to the limitation of naval armament orl
with regard to China indicates the proba-
bility of an Anglo-American agreement
which, Of course, will have nothing inl
common either with an alliance or an
understanding involving any kind of per-
manent commitments, but which will sue
coed insuring the maintenance of general
peace-Copyright 1921, by Public Ledger
Company.