The New York herald., 1921-12-08
JAPANESE APPROVE
FOURPOWER TREATY
TOBAR PACIFIC WAR
Action Taken by Diplomatic
Council at Premier's
Residence.
MUTUAL PLEDGE PLAN
Substitute for British AL
lance With Japan Reaches
Advanced Stage.
YAP IN SEPARATE PACT
Hawaiian Islands to Be Con-
sidered as Part Of American
Mainland.
YAP IN SEPARATE PACT

HONOLULU, Dec. THE Japanese
diplomatic council formally approved
the proposed four Power treaty. for
settlement of Pacific differences this
evening at meeting at Premier Taxa
hashi's official residence, according to
Toxic cabegram to the Nippu Jiji, a
Japanese language newspaper here.
WASHINGTON, Dec. ASSOCIATED
Press).-A mutual pledge not go to
war over disputes in the Pacific with
out cooling off period" Of discussion
is the basis of the new four Power
treaty proposed as substitute for the
Apglo-Japanese alliance.
Discussions of the proposal among The
'rnls delegates have reached a well adj
Eanced stage, although none of the Gov
orDments concerned--the United States,
Great Britain, Japan and France-has
given Its final approval suggestion
that the Anglo-Japanese pact be re-
%olfed has gone to Londor and Toxic.
POSSIBLE controversies ove.. the Pacific
Is ands alone. exclusive of the Ha-
waiian group and Yap, would come un-
der the provisions of the new agree
rnent. zap is to be the subject of a
separate treaty, negotiations for which
ere nearing completion, and Hawaii is
10 be considered for purposes of the
agreement as part of the American
r.ainland.
Problems of China.
The problems of China or other, por-
tons of the Asiatic mainland are not to
be touched by the proposed treaty. nor
will 1t contain provisions relating to
Pacific fortifcations or the naval reduc-
ton programme. 1t Is possible how
ever, that all of these questions may
come simultaneously TO the point of a
decision. BY the American delegates
the project is regarded as establishing
neither an alliance nor an entente. but
merely as applying to the Pacific islands
the principles OF the thirty-odd Bryan
peace treaties to which the United States
already is a party. A public statement
setting forth that position probably will
he made in the near future by Secretary
Hughes.
lean spokesmen prefer to say nothing
about their conversations on the subject
which have been proceeding entirely be-
hind the curtain OF executive sessions"
Apparently the negotiations so far have
been kept within very narrow circle
centring in the big three"-Hughes.
Balfour and kato.
An evidence of the optimism with
which American officials who are In on
the secret view the general situation in
the arms conference was given to-day.
however, by President Harding, who
declared In h public address that the
negotiations promised to succeed be-
yond our fondest hopes" Without maxi
ing direct reference to the proposed four
Power agreement, he predicted that the
Washington conference would usher in
"A new day in international anity.
Merging of Problems.
All the outward indications point to
merging OF the Pacific question with the
naval ratio problem so far as the final
decisions of some of the foreign nations
are concerned. 1t is possible that In the
final analysis the questions OF Shantune
and China generally may alst bee ONE in
terwoven In the general scheme before a
specific and definite settlement of any
of these elements is reached.
Thus it would not surprise close OBJ
servers here II the whole range of con-
troversies under consideration were
gathered In the end under one blanket
understanding, to be translated then into
several formal instruments Of agree
ment.
Thus far Great Britain alone has given
All acceptance In principle" of the four
Power plan. but her delegates, like those
OF Japan. have cabed for further instruc-
tions. The Japanese and American dele
gates are proceeding slowly. apparently
taking into account the special require
mcrts Of their respective governmental
systems.
Transmission of Plan.
T. was at a meeting Of the big three"
renriy week ago THAT the project is
Understood to have taken such form as
tn permit OF It's transmission 10 London
and Toxic. To-day no authoritative
spokesman would confirm or deny the
nany and varied reports.
The American delegates. 1t was said
to-day had felt from the beginning
that some form of international corr
cord was one of the developments most
to be hoped for. The Anglo-Japanese
alliance was said to be regarded as less
efficient than would be an agreement
In which other Powers could JOIN
The American group found itself
bound by well defined restrictions in
view OF the constitutional limitations Of
the Executive In treaty making and the
policy of non-invovement In foreign en-
tanglements. The foreign plenipotcn-
tiart,s are understood to have been
told frankly that the American delegn-
ton could not consider any proposal ap-
preaching an alliance.
The problem then became question
or finding such basis OF agreement
as would impel Japan and Great Britain
10 abrogate the alliance and Mt the same
time be assured OF Senate ratification.
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