The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-12-08
Mutual Pledge From Four
Powers May Replace the
Anglo Japanese Alliance


the new cooling off" treaty-may
all move along concurrently so that
none of them reaches definite settle
ment until all are ready to be Jumped
into final program of ACCOMPLISH
mont.
Although some of those who are
sponsoring the new Horsepower plan
have gone so far as to prepare a
tentative treaty draft, there are sew
eral details on which the plenipoten-
tiaries have not yet presented
their views in their informal ex-
changes. There seems to be a uni
versal confidence, however, that de-
tails can be adjusted easily, once the
principle involved has unanimous ac-
ceptance.
Thus far Great Britain alone of
the four powers has given an "ac-
ceptance in principle" but other dele
gates, those of Japan, have cabled
home for further information before
going into a more definite discussion.
The Japanese and American delegates
are proceeding slowly, apparently
taking into account the special re-
quirements of their respective gov
ernmental systems, and the French
are said to have taken very little part
so far in the conversations
Varied Reports
1t was at a meeting of the big
| three nearly week ago that the
project is understood to have taken
such form as to permit OF its trans
mission to the London and Toxic for
eign office for instructions. What
passed at this meeting has been care
fully guarded, and until today no
authoritative spokesman would con-
firm or deny the many and varied
reports of proposed alliances" "un-
derstandings.' and "gentlemens
agreements"
The official American spokesman
still remained silent today, but from
other sources it became known what
the American attitude had been.
The American delegates. IL was
said. had felt from the beginning
of the negotiations that some
form of international accord to
preserve the peace of the Pa
cific was one of the Developments
most to he hoped for n result
of the Washington conference.
The Anglo-Japanese alliance was
said to be regarded as less efficient
for such purpose than would be an
agreement in which other powers
having extensive interests in the Pa
cific could join.
On the other hand, the American
group found itself bound by well-de-
fined restrictions in view of the con-
stitutional limitations of the execu-
tive in treaty making and the long
established national policy of nom
involvement in foreign entangle-
ments The foreign plenipotentiaries
are understood 10 have been told
frankly that the American delegation
could not consider any proposal APP
preaching an alliance. and that even
IL such a proposal were negotiated
the American Senate never would
ratify II.
Compulsory Arbitration
The problem then became Ques-
ton of finding such basis of agree
| ment as would impell Japan and Great
Britain to abrogate the alliance. and
at the same time be assured of Sen
ate ratification. AT one time sys-
tenn of compulsory arbitration
treaties is said to have been consid-
cred and abandoned. In the plan now
under consideration the American
| delegates are understood to feel con-
| fdent of Senate support and the In
| timations coming unofficially from
both Japanese and British sources
| Indicate that the proposal also Is re-
ceiving favorable consideration at
London and Toxic. The position OF
France. brought In because of her