The New York herald., 1921-12-14
American Participation Can
Come Only After Public
Opinion Is Aroused.
FORECASTS NAVAL PACT
Believes Japan Will Keep
Mutsu With New Ships for
Other Powers.
BY wICKHAM sTEED.

Editor of London Times.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1s.-The quad
ruple Pacific treaty was signed this
morning. The way for the signing
was cleared on Monday. by the con-
clusion OF an agreement-which like
tween the United States and Japan
In regard to cable and wireless IA
cilities, and the rights of American
nationals. on the Island of Yap. BY
this agreement the United States con-
sents also to the administration by
Japan Of the inundated islands In the
pacific north of the equator. The ques-
ton of the islands south Of the equa-
tor will be reserved for settlement
through ordinary diplomatic channels.
Ratification Looked For.
The quadruple treaty win promptly
be sent to the Senate. Indeed. a pre-
iiminary discussion took place in the
Senate on Monday. when tho leading op-
ponents of the treaty stated their objec-
tions to It. Nothing in the tone Of the
debate alters the prevailing belief that
two-thirds Of the Senate VIII support
ratification.
The next pIenary sitting. which may
be convened this week, will probably be
devoted to the naval question. While
acceptance of the 5-5-3 ratio is GER
tain, 1t may be found that in it are in
cluded the battleship Mutsu for Japan.
and possibly two Marylands for the
United States and one or two Hoods for
Great Britain, provision being made for
the scrapping of an equivalent amount
OF older capital ship tonnage. The nava,
holiday idea may have undergone more
accurate definition so as to obviate the
violent oscillations In shipbuilding which
In its original form II certainly would
have entailed. Mr.. Balfour may take
advantage Of the opportunity to deal
publicly with the whole question Of the
limitation of naval arrnaments from the
British standpoint.
The announcement Of q Chinese set
tIevnent, in so far as a definite settle
ment Is practicable In this conference,
is likely to be reserved for the sixth
plenary sitting, either before or after
Christmas.
II IL necessary to repeat the warning
I gave yesterday as to the repercussion
of the doings and sayings of Erropes''
Governments upon American public OPP
ion. Accounts from Europe. publish
here to-day. OF the alleged intention OF
the British and French Prime Minister
to come to washington In connection
with a scheme for an economic confer
ence have evoked some unfavorable not
to saw acrid comment in the Americe1
press. II cannot be too clearly under
stood that any participation OF the
United States In the economic affairs o.
Europe must come, II II come at all. as
a result of a perception on this side of
the Atlantic that American interests de-
mand such participation. This percep-
ton is by no means general
Suspicion Aroused.
A small, albeit an influential. minority
of American breiness men. supported by
n sprinkIing of American public men
whose experience enables them TO take
a world view Of the worlds a~airs. be-
lieve indeed that the United States VIII
never be able to recover It's normal posi-
economic problems OF Europe have been
in some way adjusted, preferably with
American assistance. But these men do
not speak for American opinion as a
whole. They have. moreover to contend
against the suspicion that they are ad-
vocating, directly OF Indirectly, the in
terests OF Wall Street.
European Governments and flnanciers
should. therefore, be chary OF discussing
any plans for the economic rehabil'ta-
ton OF Europe that may seem TO involve
further sacrifices on the part Of Ameri-
can taxpayers. In particular. the Brit
ish Government, which owes the United
States roughly ono thousand million
pounds sterling, borrowed here and len,
TO France and italy In the course OF the
war, must remember that the surest way
to preserve American esteem Is to make
II clear that within n period OF years
TO be determined the British treasury is
resolved to meet Its engagements to the
full.
Americans as q whole do not rcspec,
candidates for charity. They have, on
the contrary, a great respect for those
who try to help themselves. n Amer
leans presently discover that their own
well considered economic and financial
interests arc being adversely affected by
European economic distress, and II they
then advocate some plan for the ailevia-
tion of that distress the plan may be
considered In Europe as n business
proposition. devoid OF charitable savor
or intent. Any other course might we'll
be fatal to hopes of American coopora-
tion with the rest of the world.