The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-12-24
HARDING
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Recants' OpiniQ&nsa on
Pacific Treaty and
Agrees With Arms
Conference Delega-
ton

Washington, Dec 20.-President
Harding. in statement issued to-
night. stated that he had no objec-
ton to construction by the
armament. conference delegates
that the four power treaty include
the principal islands Of Japan in
its application. The statement
said:
When the president was re-
spending TO press inquiries at the
,. afternoon interview today he OK
/, pressed the opinion that the home
land Of Japan did not come within
the words 'insular possessions and
insular dominions' under the four
power agreement. except as the
territory proper of any other na-
ton which Is party TO the agree
! ment.
This expression" the statement
continued. has been emphasized as
a division between the president
| and the delegates to the conference
in constituting the four power agree
! 1nent
! The president announced to-
| night that the difference in view in
no wise Will be permitted to en-
barrass the conference or the rat
ification of the agreement. He had
assumed ali along that the spirit
Eof the conference contemplates a
confidence which pledges respect of
territory III every way which tends
to promote lasting peace.
lie has learned from the United
States delegates to the conference
that they have agreed to the con-
struction which includes the home
Land OF Japan In the term insu-
/ lIsr possessions and insular dOmin-
IONS, and has no objection to that
! construction"
The language Of the treaty thus
brought into question has also been
the aabject OF senate discussion, and
in response to inquiries based on
the assertions OF the opponents Of
ratification. spokesmen for the
American delegation have said re-
peatedly that the major japanese
group I.:ust be regarded as includ-
! cd within the provisions Of the
! agreement.
When he So forth an opposite
view today. Mr. Harding was said
By officials close TO him to have
acted without consultation with his
state department advisers and With
out any definite purpose Of an
! uouncinG the attitude OF the admin
istraton it was declared that he
merely was voicing a personal opin-
ion. and had no thought Of precipi-
tatiIg L clash in conference cir
cles
The eNect on the delegates. how
ever. was Immediately apparent.
None OF them would comment. but
among Americans, British, French
and Japanese alike there as evil
dent desire TO have the attitude o.
the American government clarified
at once. The American delegation
held meeting and as Senators
Lodge and Underwood We're hasten
| ing 10 the White House a British
spokesman pot directly connected
with the British delegation was
telling newspaper correspondents
that Il view directly opposite to
that Of the president had been
communicated to the other powers
by the American plenipoten,iaries
during the negotiations.
Baron Kato, head OF the Japa-
nese vas one Of those who show
ed greatest interest il the presi-
dents attitude. a pledge OF secre-
cy, said the japanese statesman
prevented him from divulging
whether there had been an agree
ment as to application OF the treaty
TO the principal Jpranese islands
and he added, the meaning adopt
I'd al the time OF signing might be
changed in the future, 80 can say
nothing at this time
In British quarters ii was said
that the British and the Americans
took the lead in framing the treaty
~ do ~ ap'tS ~ d.! '"e 'dpoiie'e
group. and that the Japanese for q
time opposed the arrangement. Ar
..,"' 'i'oo VI 'iio H4 ~
'oii '" 90 o., t,'' eu ~ ''f''c oeeii ii-
his'e'' o'i iii'iuoiis .he aiaJoF Jap
aheSe iSi@lluS II 'he hIitlsh uolhlh-
ions ol Aus'!aila ana ne" Zea-
i;no We're 20 DC taken III.
DellnltlQn OF the geographical
scope Oh the treaty as hnallH
agreed, 10, Is lhcluded IN Artlcle !