The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-12-25


tated for appreciating his elo-
luence, for all could see was the
United States climbing into the
league of nations through the pan
try window. while Senator Lodge
held up the sash.
But it was a fine climb for the
United States!
In the week thus opened there
followed more agreements, more set
Elements. TALL necessary to round
out Mr.. Lodges big four power pact.
tMr. Hughes has left IL to the
press to fix the name and to date
this seems to be the favorite.) These
were presented to the public
the press in what might be
called private rehearsals. Stapd-
ing at one end of the long audience
room, opening from his own ONCE
in the State Department. a hundred
or more newspaper folk of various
nationalities, pressing close to him,
Secretary Hughes read on Monday
afternoon, December IL, the text of
an arrangement with Japan con-
corning zap, an arrangement hang
ing since last June and now settled
and settled rightly by fair give
and-take on both sides.
A Good Days Work.
He followed this by reading the
written consent of the United States
to another chunk of the league of
nations. What IL amounted to was
that the United States agreed to the
mandate given Japan by the YER
sailles treaty over the islands in
the Pacific north OF the Equator.
late the property of Germany. The
United States also accepted all the
terms of tho mandate as laid down
by the league Of nations, excellent
terms they are, too. We are even
to get a copy of the annual report
of her stewardship, which Japan,
like all other league manufactures.
is obliged to make, showing that
she is really developing and not
exploiting the territory which she
is being allowed to administer. This
was a good deal for one day.
Three days later. Thursday the
fifteenth, at o'clock in the eve
ming. Mr.. Hughes staged another
private rehearsal for the press. 1t
was settled. Settled on the five-five-
three basis. What 1t seems to
amount to is that Great Britain and
the United States have had the
goodwill and the wisdom to rec
ognize Japan's genuine sentiment
over the Mutsu. One has only to
read the revised agreement to un-
derstand what pains the two, coun-
tries have taken to readjust the
calculations of the United States
~, tha
ito would be preserved and ia
When nations come to the point
that they are willing to try to I'M
derstand and to consider one an
others feelings as well as one
another's force, there is some hope
for the peace of the world.
Much as believe in our ac-
cepting the four-power pact am
not sure but the biggest thing we
have done is to readjust our own
pretentfons, as in the case of zap.
our own pride, as in the case of the
naval program, to accommodate
the claims of a weaker nation.
There is no gainsaying the fact
that the great triumph of this
dramatic week is Japan's. 1t Is a
legitimate triumph. honestly won.
She understands what she has gained.
AS the session Of December 10 broke
up. one of the ablest members of
her delegat!on-a bitter critic of
what has been doing here-came out
from the conference hall with tears
in his eyes, though they do say that
no japanese knows how to shed tears.
ut is the greatest day in the history
of the new world" he said. And that
is true-if Japan will now be as
generous towards the rights and aspi-
rations of her great neighbor China
as she has been tenacious OF her own
safety and dignity. The world has
recognized her power and her diplo-
matte skill. She has now to win its
confidence in her moral integrity.
But if December 10 was the begin
ming of Japan's week of triumph. 1t
was Mr.. Balfour's day. He made
little speech which will stick long
in the minds Of those who heard IL.
1T so happens" said Mr.. Balfour.
that I was at the head of the British
which twerty years
ago brought the great Anglo-Japan-
csc alliance into existence. 1t so
happens that l was at the head OF
the British. administration which
brought into existence an entente be
tween the British and Russian en-
pires and France. and through all
my life have been a constant, ardent
and persistent advocate Of intimate
and friendly relations between the two
great branches Of the English speak
ing race.
You may we'll conceive, therefore,
how deep is my satisfaction when I
see all these four powers putting their
signature to a treaty which I believe
will for all time insure perfect HARM
ony of cooperation between them in
the great region with which the
treaty deals"
That little speech gave one a clearer
sense Of what through all these years
Arthur Balfour has been doing then
that ever has before come
to me. There is something supremacy
brave about a man of such fine I'M
Outstanding. such humorous and dis
cynicism, standing by
through all of the disillusions, dis
gust, deception, forced evil chices
Of public life, never quitting what
ever the temptation. For more than
forty years now Arthur Balfour has
stood by. He is, I believe. 70 years
old. He has never had so much rea-
son in all his long political career to
believe that the good will Of men
can be modified for the worlds
service. What he has done here,
what he has done in Geneva for
the league of nations, and win in
the future do there, I hope, are
proofs not only of his bravery,
but of his fundamental belief in
human beings and in the possibility
of their eventually establishing
controls over their greed and sell
fishness