Evening star., 1921-11-17
British MAY OFFER
NEW Japan PACT
Land Arms Issue Likely to
Be Turned Over to
League Of Nations.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Great Britain expects IA answer the
American desire for an ah-ogation Of
the Anglo-Japanese alliance with q
concrete proposal that q newh whtreaty/Dr
agreement be substituted, wh7hh shall
be signed not only by England and
Japan, but by all the nations intarest-
ed in guaranteeing the open dooT' in
China.
contain an absolute guarantee of the
territorial integrity and adminfstra-
tive independence OF China or wheth-
er the same object would be achieved
by pledges to respect China's political
independence is still a matter of de-
bate. But the big fact is that enough
confidence as to the probable solution
Of the question prevails as to lead the
American delegation to show a Will
ingness to sign the agreement on
reduction of naval armament without
waiting for the adjustment OF far
eastern questions.
British policy on the Anglo-Japa-
nese alliance Is revealed by Arthur
James Balfour, who make it plain that
the Angio-Japanese alliance "ouio pt
superflous II all the powers entered lnto
an agreement with respect TO the lar
points as were in the alliance. MT.
BaHour realizes that the word ain
ance" is Objectionable to american
opinion, and therefore the talk now Is
of an Agreement.
British Are Pu1xled.
Whether the conclusions reached
should be embodied in a treaty TO be
submitted to the American Senate or
whether an exchange of notes at TINS
conference would be sufficiently bind
ing is puzzling the British. who nave
seen the United States make execu-
tive agreements only to have theln
repudiated by the Senate.
The influence at the moment, now
ever, of President Harding and Secre-
tary Hughes with the American senate
is such that an agreement made at inns
conference stands a very good chaHce
of being ratified by the Senate. parucu-
larly as Senator Underwood. leader OF
the democrats, could marshal enough
votes to assist in getting the neoes-
Incidentally the Chinese proposals
have in the main produced favorable
impression 1t is realized that many
points will have to be discussed, but thN
truth is the Chinese were expected to
ask for a great deal more. Their pro-
posals are couched in language which
many British and American officials
think is an augury of a successful
outcome Of the far eastern part OF the
conference.
League May Get Land Issue.
AS for land ornaments. there is a
movement afoot to transfer the entire
question to the league Of nations.
This originates out OF a chance re-
mark of a member of the British dele
CATION, who, in discussing the ques-
tion of land armaments. pointed out
significantly that the league of ma
| tions already has commission at
work on land and armament. lnasmuch
as both the United States and Great
Britain have reduced their armies to
a relatively small size, the question
largely affects nations in continental
Europe. President Harding considers
the league of nations to be a useful
body for the settlement Of purely Eu-
ropean questions, and Ambassador
Harvey, Americas representative on
the supreme council. did not express
any objection when the same group
of powers as are now represented here
formally referred the Silesian dispute
to the league of nations 1t would not
be surprising to see the problem of
land armamentS passed on to the
league of nations, with America silently
asserting.
Unless such a course is chosen the
land armament problem is confidently
expected by members of various del
egations here to open up all sorts
| OF European questions, especially rep
arations and security for France from
a possible German invasion. High
administration officials have on one
occasion lately indicated that it
! might be wise for the United States
to find a way to relieve France of
her army burdens. and this has been
taken to mean that America might.
after all, participate in a discussion
of land armament as well as the
stability of Europe from an economic
rather than a political viewpoint.
The attitude of the American delega-
tion. however. is to settle one thing
at time. and nail it down Thus
the momentum given the naval arma-
nIent proposals is such that every
energy is being exerted to reach an
early agreement, Irrespective of every
such an accomplishment. the Ameri-
can delegates are represented as feel
ing sure the far eastern questions
would be as effectively adjusted
Land armament problems will. of
course, be discussed by Premier Bri-
and at an open session, but it be-
gins to look doubtful whether the
subject will be eXhauStively conSid-
cred unless the naval armament and
far eastern problems are out of the
way more quickly than is expected.
Copyright. 1921