Evening star., 1921-11-09
TASKS Of NATIONS
AT COMING 2ARLEY
Close Cooperation With
US. Need Seen by Visit
ing Delegates.
BY PAUL SCOTT MOWRER.

1t Is scarcely an exaggeration to de-
clare that the immediate future of
the British empire is no less fully at
stake in this conference than are the
immediate futures of Japan and the
United States. Whatever happens. or
If nothing happens. the result, in one
sense or another. will be decisive.
and Britain knows 1t.
Britain's policy has been clearly
enuncfated. In the matter of the
limitation OF naval armaments Brit
ain will accept basis of equality as
between the British and American
fleets. Only the details remain to be
worked out.
In the far eastern, or Pacific, Ques-
tfon- Britain has two aims which it
regards as equally vital. The first is
States. Britain and the United States
are already economic rivals. To dou-
Bile this economic rivalry by a naval
rivalry would obviously be danger
Gus to all concerned.
Japan CO-OpeFates.
The second is close cooperation
with Japan. The British empire is
composed not merely Of white men,
but many millions of brown and black
men. notably in India, Egypt and
South Africa. To break with Japan,
after twenty years of fruitful COL
laboration, would, it is feared, pre-
cipitate a race struggle, on color
lines, which could scarcely prove
other than disastrous for Britain.
The latter. to conciliate the two
foregoing aims, therefore proposes a
tripartite understanding of the United
states. Britain and Japan; and. failing
THIS, Will do everything possible to
compose the differences which are
likely to become acute between the
United States and Japan.
Others' Interests Slight,
The interests of the other European
guests in the conference are slight
compared with those of Britain.
Portugal and Holland will follow the
lead OF Britain. Belgium will follow
the lead of France. Italy has already
cut down its army. it's navy is not
large, and it has no far eastern in
terests. beyond a small concession In
Tientsin. 1t desires to prevent war,
and 1t hopes that the conference, be-
fore 1t gets through, will deal with
European economic questions The
trend of its delegation is almost
wholly economic.
France has a large and rich Asiatfc
colony. and it has spheres Of interest
and valuable concessions in China
Nevertheless. it's interests in the
Pacific and the far east are second
ary as compared to it's interests in
Europe. North Africa and the Medi-
terranean.
It is ardently desirous of co-operat-
Ing with the United States, which it
considers to be. morally and material
iy, the strongest power in the world
today. but. on the other hand, It does
not want to see Japan isolated, lest
there result a japanese Russian Ger
man bloc which would once more
threaten France on The Rhlns. Il
fears. the contagious possibilities Of
= war in the Pacific. Bnd VIII eeert
al It's influence In favor OF niadera-
don and compromise.
1faaee Destreo - ReAoeA
Navally: France. ID already disarmsd
ment France win instantly take the
deld in tt4 own defense. 1t win petnt
out that the apparent disarmament Of
Germany ts illusory, and will present
many documents to prove it's contention.
1t will dwell, Furthermore. on the weak
ness OF the new central and eastern
European states and on the necessity
OF watching over their safety during
their tender years. 1t will explain its
ardent desire to reduce its army, but
Will point. on the one hand, to it's new
responsibilities. not only in its own
colonial empire. but in the near east
and on the Rhine; and. on the other, to
the fact that as the United States has
neither Joined the league Of nations nor
ratified the Franco British American
pact, the guarantees promised 1t at the
Paris conference have not been fulfilled.
l do not believe that France win ask
for anything whatever at the washing
ton conference. But If the United
States or Britain cares to submit to 1t
any proposals as a substitute for the
unratified guarantee pact it will listen
with sympathy and with close attention
The spirit of independence has been
growing constantly in France since the
armistice. Having inclined at flrst to
depend almost entirely upon its alliee
it has tended since, first in disappoint-
ment. then in bitterness, and now In
resignation, to fall back more and mora
upon itself. its own resources, its own
aims, its own courage
Copyright, 1921 ..