The New York herald., 1921-11-09
Would Remove Imagin-
airy Menace to U. S., Says
London Journalist.
RESERVATION BY TOXIC
Would Agree to Arrange
ment, Not Alliance, of
the Three Powers.
BY A. MAURICE Low,

BY A. MAURICE Low,
Correspondent OF the London Morn
ING Post.
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington. ID. c., Nov. 8.
When the invitations to the Wash
ington conference were issued 1t was
the general American belief that one
Of its main purposes was to enable
Great Britain adroitly to escape from
her alliance with Japan. This belief
was fortified when it became known
England had asked for preliminary
-Japanese-British conference
on Far Eastern affairs.
It was increased later when Senator
Lodge was appointed a member Of the
American delegation, as his speech in
the Senate on Shantung was extremely
bitter and revealed his nti-Japanese
sentiments, and 1t was strengthened
by a complete misunderstanding re-
garding the position of Canada and
Australia as affecting japan and their
relations with the United States.
Lord Northcliffe's recent utterances
have contributed to misleading the
public and promoting an anti-Japanese
sentiment in this country, which,
through clever propaganda, was told
Japan thought lightly of the alliance
and would gladly terminate it at the
request of the United States.
The Administration at the beginning
while not so extreme and, of course, not
so i'll informed as the public. believed
that the alliance could be ended and
that the influence Of our great domin-
ions would be found with America
rather than with England.
Since then, through conversations in
Washington and London, the position of
both England and Japan has been made
clear to the Administration. Our po-
sition Is very simple. We are pre-
pared to modify the terms of the alli-
ance so that its imaginary menace to
Japan concurs, provided that the United
States will join with England and Japan
in an arrangement-the exact word to
describe it Is not easy to find-that will
be acceptable to all the Powers. An al
lance, of course, is barred, as an alli-
ance Is out of the question and no one
even suggests it. An understanding or
entente which does not impose obliga-
tions Is vague, but comes nearer to the
idea in mind. A bond of friendship Is,
perhaps, as convenient "a term as can
be used
How this can be brought about I'M
poses difficulties for two reasons: First,
American public opinion is overwhelm-
ingly opposed to any kind of arrange
ment-1 do not say agreement, but ar
rangement even-with Japan and in it's
present mood will resent the suggestion
that instead of the Anglo-Japanese alli-
ance being destroyed, which is the uni
versal American hope and expectation, =
is to be superseded by an Ango-Ameri-
can-Japanese arrangement, or whatever
else 1t may be called.
But the Administration. which is miles
or months ahead of the public, clearly
sees, and with a man of such acute
vision as Secretary Hughes directing
affairs, 1t could not fail to be seen, that
a settlement Of the problems of the Far
East cannot be reached by drastic
methods or an American flat, but must
be brought about In a spirit of accom-
modation.
The second difficulty is to reduce
aspirations to concrete terms and effect
great political achievement using poll
teal In the best meaning of that word.
To put that bond of friendship in writ
ing will require the best skill and after
1t is written out 1t Is still no more than
a pious hope unless II has the imprina-
tur of the Senate.
With the experience OF Versailles
with the greater knowledge now of
American constitutional methods than
Europe had two years ago, the Powers
will not be satisfied with anything less
than the formal approval of the Senate.
Notes exchanged between plenipoten-
tiaries. while correctly expressing their
own views are not sufficient, because
they are extra-constitutional, without
validity and have no binding effect. In
saying that whatever Is agreed upon
must receive the approval of the Sem
ate, / do not wish TO be understood that
a treaty is necessarily demanded, as
other forms will serve equally as well,
but in some form or other. the Senate
must Join with the Administration in
giving its approval to the work of the
conference.
viii the Senate approve? That is the
unanswerable question. No one would
say to-day that 1t will or that it will not.
It will depend. upon the precise use of
words. the general results reached, the
temper OF the Senate and the country at
the moment when action must be taken,
and many other considerations.
II In. OF course, not for either Great
Britain or japan TO suggest methods
that Is purely for the United States to
decide In accordance with It's own con-
stitutional practices. But whatever is
done must be of formal nature that
later cannot be challenged.