The New York herald., 1921-12-10


can-Japanese" treaty to the Senate
THE NEW YORK HERALD exploded this
fallacy ON Monday last on the highest
and most conclusive authority obtain
able.
Thereupon M. Balfour, a sapient
diplomat, began to grope around for
an alterna tive that might prove &C
ceptable. He is credited with having
found 1t in the form Of a four Power
arrangement which to his mind pos
sessed more than one admirable feat.
ure. not the least of which would be
to lessen the tension between his own
country and France.
Mr.. Balfour and Baron Karo. repre-
senting the two Powers most inter
ested in the original Anglo-Japanese
treaty, conferred with NJ. Viviani, the
head OF the French delegation. M
Viyiani and Ambassador Jusserand
representing France, viewed the Bal
four project with manifest satisfaction.
A conference with Secretary Hughes
followed on Tuesday. This was par
ticipated in by Secretary Hughes, Mr.
Balfour, Baron Kato and Ambassador
Jusserand.
No attempt was made TO reduce the
suggestion OF a four Power arrange
ment to writing. however, until NJ
Viviani had sounded out M. BRAND at
Paris. Prince TolSugawa, the head OF
the Japanese delegation, seems to have
had less difficulty in getting the ap-
proval of the Toxic Government to the
Balfour four Power plan than in ob-
tanning a decision on the naval ratio
matter, a circumstance which natu-
rally provoked the suggestion that the
quadruple alliance scheme was held to
he of major Importance by the Mika'
dos Government.
Representatives of Great Britain,
France and Japan are known to have
reached an agreement over the Bal
four four Power pact on Wednesday.
Yesterday morning a draft OF 1t was
made and submitted to Secretary
Hughes, who placed it before Presi-
dent Harding and his associates in
the American delegation. After that
there was nothing for the British,
French and Japanese delegates to do
but await the decision of the Ameri-
can delegates which, so far as the
public was informed this afternoon,
had not been reached.
Excellent Prospect to End Pact.
The representatives of the three
foreign countries seem to have agreed
that the prospect for agreement on
some diplomatic instrument that
would Justify the abandonment OF the
Anglo japanese alliance was most
felicitous. The representatives Of
Great Britain and Japan naturally
congratulated one another on finding
a way OF escaping from the embar-
rassments of the contract between
them.
The exchange OF these amenities
furnished an optimistic tinge to all
conference undertakings in their opin-
ion. and were comprehensive enough
to include persons in whom confidence
was reposed. but who could not resist
the temptation to talk about the event.
In that way several versions OF the
terms of the Balfour contract were
freely discussed last night. All OF
these versions agreed as TO one fea-
ture. 1t was that the new agreement.
would bind the signatories to respect
but not guarantee the territorial pos
sessions of one another in the Pa
cifc Ocean.
Confirmation Of the theory upon
which this conviction was built was
provided by the anxiety OF the Chi
nese to be Included in any arrange
ment made relating to Pacific prob
lens. Inasmuch as all possessions
that China ever had in the Pacific
have been taken away from her by
foreign nations. she was not regarded
as eligible for membership in the new
combination. The Chinese delegates
are understood to have made direct
appeal to Mr.. Bafour to be included
and to have finally. sent 1t to Secre-
tary Hughes. What disposition the
latter made OF it has not been an
nounced, but the great impression
prevailed this afternoon that China
would not be let in.