The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-12-10
AN ALLIANCE
The PRICE OF
DISARMAMENT
Japan Demands a Big
ger Navy or Part
nershfp in Combine
Of Big Powers

l ~ 10 - ~ ~ ~ ~
Washington, Dec. 5 (By the Asso-
| ciated Press) ).-The question Of a
three Of four power agreement to
replace the Anglo-Japanese alliance
is demanding increased attention
among the arms delegates while
they wait for Japan to define her
position on the naval ratio.
| The latest suggestion, contem-
plating an entente to include the
United States, Great Britain. japan
and France, has developed to the
! point where tentative treaty draft
is under consideration in some
quarters, although it has not been
formally presented to the confer
ence.
| There are indications that the
| japanese delegates, and perhaps
the British as we'll, are consulting
their home governments on such a
| proposition at the same time that
they are asking for further instruc-
tions in regard to the naval ratio.
On the part Of the American gov
ernment there apparently is no dis
position to entertain an entente pro-
posal, at least at the present stage
of the negotiations. Later such a
| suggestion may receive considera-
ton, provided it includes no re-
qairements counter to American
public opinion.
No Condition Involved.
Upon high authority it was said
today that the naval problem as it
was referred to Toxic after the last
meeting of the "big three" involves
no proposal for a political agree
ment of any character, but is con-
cerned solely with the naval and
military aspects Of the situation.
The American delegation adheres
to it's expectation that the naval
issue viii be settled without condi-
tioninp the decision on any sort o.
| q political Encouragement.
.AdmirA Baron Kato of the Jap
anese delegation said tonight, how
ever, that the naval question in
wolves issues which are far reaching
! in effect upon the national and in
ternational life of Japan and on the
policies OF great powers 1or decades
to come, and perhaps permanently.
| These issues, he said, should be
| brought to the full knowledge and
consideration of his government be-
| fore definite action is taken.
| The delay in presenting Japan's
definite position on ratio, declared
| the Japanese statesman, is due
wholly to the difficulties Of cable
communication and the desire Of
! the japanese government to act
circumspectly in so important a
| decision. 1t has been indicated that
! it may be late in the week before
the japanese government is to re-
| turn reply to the latest naval
proposition. Meantime, the con-
ference outward]y is concerning it
| self with questions Of collateral
significance. The committee on
draft, headed by Elihu Root. held
a meeting today and debated the
problem of foreign telegraph and
radio facilities in China. virtually
deciding to bring in a resolution
providing that as many Of these
facilities as exist without treaty
sanction shall have only a curtailed
use hereafter.
The committee of the whole on
| the Far East is to meet again on
Wednesday, bringing the full mem
bership of the conference together
again after a recess of four days.
An open session Of the conference
itself may be held late in the week.
but no plans for it have been made.
! The American belief that the
| pendent Of political issues. although
borne out thus fa,' by the direction
| taken by the negotiations. appar-
emily is not readily accepted in all
quarters A British spokesman re-
Gently declared that in the British
view the naval and Far Eastern
problems were bound up in the
same sheaf and there have been
indications Of a like opinion among
some Japanese despite the public
announcement Of Admiral Baron
Kato that he was ready to con-
sider a naval agreement without
reference to the political cCnsidera-
tions involved.
Confusion May Result.
It is considered possible that in
the present period of waiting. the
two threads of negotiations may
!. become so tangled in the foreign
capitals as to give the American
delegation considerable trouble in
! separating them when the discus
sions here are resumed. 1t would
not surprise some observers if there
should be an attempt to make the
| final reply Of one or moro Of the
governments conditional upon a po-
litical agreement OF one sort or
another.
The proposal for four power
entente as now advanced is con
sidercd an outgrow1h of the sug-
gestion Of David Lloyd George
made several weeks ago in parlia-
naent. that the Washington confer
ence might we'll consider merging
1.-THE AngIo-Japanese alliance into
an arrangement to whlch the