New-York tribune., 1921-11-24
Agreement on
Far East Sure,
SAYS Sil1londs
Under Leadership of Root,
Policy of Exploration, to
Determine Course Toward
China, Is Being Pursued
Treaties Validity Upheld
Japan TO Hold Manchuria,
but Will Leave Shantung
and Siberia, He Asserts
By Frank Fl. Simonds

WASHiNGIONs Nov. Sos--Ihe QueS-
tom Of naval disarmament was line
a attack. The question Of the Far
East Is the line of retreat" This COM
ment, made to ME by member of Mr..
Hsrdinc's Cabinet, still fairly describes
he situation. The policy of limita-
s;on of naval armaments was a policy
of declaration. What is being done in
the Far East represents policy of ex-
rloration. In the one case not cnly
5sfnite principles but specific appli-
cations were laid down. In the other,
vhat is going on is search for areas
ef agreement.
The United States is not prepared to
70 TO war with Japan to save China or
d establish as China and maintain as
China what corresponds to the out
lines OF contemporary Biographies and
auarrel with the facts known in all
chancelleries. Hence the change at the
present hour.
This change which is taking place in
the conference is, moreover, twofold.
III. Hughes conducted the offensive of
the opening days, which remains the
feature OF the gathering. The naval
gesture was consistent with his char-
acter and his temperament. Now, in a
totally different kind of operation, the
leadership has passed TO Mr.. Root, and
the agreements which emerge from this
conference respecting the Far East will
bear the imprint of the genius of a
man who was one of Mr.. Hughes's
most distinguished predecessors.
Force Against Japan Lacking
Mr.. Root is dealing with realities,
hut not with facts. in the sense that
Mr.. Hughes used the word. Japan oc-
cupies position from which it cannot
be expelled except by force. and the
force is lacking. The main question is
how far she is willing to go in order to
maintain her place in the circle Of
Western nations. to what extent she is
ready to waive certain advantages
which she possesses, and to refrain
from the further intensive exploitation
Of other advantages.
The French spondents, who see
the thing perhaps more coolly and dis
passionately than any others, inter
pret the four points agreed upon on
Monday as to China as meaning in
substance the recognition of the val
idity Of all the treaties signed by
China with the various powers in the
past. This means in ordinary Ian
guage concedirg in advance that what
ever is TO be done on behalf of the
open door and the principle of the in
tegrity of China will be based on what
has happened in the past and been
sanctioned by treaties or otherwise
recognized.
We can put the thing quite bluntly
by saying that Japan is going to stay
IN Manchuria, although she may rec
oognize that technically Manchuria be-
longs to China. She is going to get
China is going to have some relief
from interference with her fiscal af-
fairs. But there is not going to be
any four-power alliance designed to
back China, put her on her feet CIR to
enforce certain principles in the Far
East
Nobody Wants to Fight
When you come down to the bottom
fact 1t is this: The conference in Wash
ington IS proceeding by unanimous
consent in the Far East. One dissent
ing vote will block any proposition.
and there IS no intention of trying to
vote down an opposing delegation, for
mere voting will do nothing.
The United States, Great Britain
and Japan are sitting around a table
Trying to formulate principles broad
enough SO that they all can agree,
and then the United States and Great
britain, principally the United States,
VIII try to sharpen some Of these prin-
cipiss, so far as it is possible, into
aehnite declarations of policy. What
IS gong on is all very simple and un-
defstandable if reduced to human par
allei Nobody wants to fight. All
tnree countries recognize that at a
certain point Japan will fight rather
snan give in, and diplomacy is endeay-
oflhg to hide the points where a COM
promise is impossible and emphasize
Or probable. -''
noerable time. 1t is bound to be con-
iuslng and misleading, but if you con-
eeive that the three principal nations
sle sitting down and discussing the
.at eastern question not with the in
.cnsaon OF enforcing any ideas upon
ssen otner, but, as / said before, Of
sApioring areas of agreement, you will
ses an accurate idea of what is going
on; Every one who knows at all of the
guoslc and professional career of Elihu
Aoos knows how eminently suited he
Tor this kind of negotiation and
t1Sseognizes how much better off the
'vnited States is in Washington than
was IN Paris, since it has at least
swc men in its delegation here pre-
sIihentiy ut to participate and to take
ieading part in the negotiations.
Prestige Question With Japan
NOW, as to the naval situation. am
.Siu by the highest possible authority
tnat there is no chance that Japan
VIII really risk break over the dis
sasslon as to whether the naval ratio
srould ~, be ten-ten-six or ten-ten-seyen.
maat really troubles the Japanese in
LUIS LUIS question is the matter of prestige
fui'e as much as a matter of tonnage.
y accepting 60 per cent ratio they
soniess themselves a secondary naval
power, and this is bound to hurt their
rVs,uon IN the Far East. Something
'. tne same feeling explains the French
svslsion, where regard for national SEN
slaent may compel France to ask to
~ aiiotted ratio as great as that Of
na.Ppan' and the same is true of Italy.
s.Asswise scsaerwise both nations would involun~
.a.uy accept position not even of a
sssssone-ciass naval power, but of a
F.au-rate sea power. That either
saace or Italy would ever build up
Us ou per cent ratio is inconceivab BILE,
~ ~. notn countries desire to retain the
snt TO rank as second-class naval
{vuess II they choose. This is the main
49, IN all the discussion of the naval
ssthn snStshstlon to-day. 1t is one of prestige
-suer enan of practical consideration.
British May End Alliance
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