The Washington herald., 1921-10-23
Says u. S. Seeks Conference
Asking All, Giving Nothing
Support of Europe Sought for Pacific Policy
Though No Compensations Offered For
Resulting Japanese Enmity.
By FRANK H. sIMoNDS.

expect European support on the day
Of decision. Europe has colonies,
investments, interests political and
interests financial of enormous
value all over Asia, and these great
investments are compromised the
moment that the japanese adopt a
hostile policy. In reprisal for Eu-
ropean support of the American
thesis. Obviously. we have more to
other than the Japanese. There is
not a single one of the European
powers which would not prefer the
American to the Japanese alliance,
but Japan can and does offer some
thing concrete and so far we have
offered nothing and have frowned
upon any suggestion Of alliance,
direct or indirect.
And the thing does not stop with
Asia. II Europe offers US substan-
tial support in the Far East, where
at present our main interest lies,
it will inevitably demand Of us
eounterbalancing favors in Europe.
We shall have to take an interest in
European matters and there is
something more than passive sig
nihcance in the fact that at Geneva,
France and Britain agreed upon a
new invitation to the United States
to join the league of nations. That
invitation may prove an awkward
circumstance a few weeks later,
when we begin to unfold our views
and wishes, for Europe might Judge
us by our rejoinder to their pro-
posal.
VIII Trade support for Alliance.
Do we want French support for
the American thesis in China and
the Far East and French help in
making the disarmament discussion
something more than a solemn
farce? Well, we can have 1t by
agreeing to ratify the Anglo-Amer-
lean treaty of insurance, which
pledges our troops to defend France
against a fresh German attack and
by also agreeing that we shall be
prepared to protect French AsiatIc
possessions against a Japanese as
sault, provoked by French associa-
ton with our efforts at Washing
ton. But we can't get the French
to disarm in the presence of Ger
many II we are not willing to
promise aid, and we can't get the
French to quarrel with the Japanese
in our interests, IL we will not
guarantee Indo-China Tahiti and
New Caledonia.
De we want British support for
our Far Eastern policies? We can
have 1t, but not for nothing. We
must agree to two things: to frame
an glo-American alliance and to
QFe,r . oFI DrNN
the defense of her dominions which
will be menaced. if Britain breaks
with Japan. And this is a guaran-
tee for India and British rule in
India. quite as much as for Aus
tralian or Canadian security. But
If we will not pay in kind. then
Britain will have to consult her
own interests. and there is no mis-
taking the fact that these lie with
Japan to the extent that a break
with Japan would invite reprisal
and might risk the collapse Of
British Empire in Asia and the
freedom of British dominions In
Australasia
"PRy, Pay, Pay Is Cry.
Holland does not cut much of,
figure in American calculation, but
We have invited her to attend the
conference and Holland has 5O,OOO,-
10 subjects in her Pacific Islands.
She cannot defend these possessions
against Japan. They represent her
real claim to world Importance. II
she votes with us. Japan can seize
them without difficulty. But will
we agree that in return for the
Dutcn support at Washington we
VIII protect Dutch East Indies
against Japanese aggression. If we
won't then the mere Influence of
olackmail will prevent Holland
from supporting us. 1t is a ques-
ton Of pay, pay. pay" all along the
line. just as as Mr.. Wilson dis
covered at Paris. There is not a
single international question which
can be i-olated and discussed with
out regard to other circumstances.
NOW Europe is going to try two
things. Its first line will be OBJ
viously to discover our purposes.
IL mas It's votes, its Influence, it can
wreck Mr.. Harding's conference out
OF hand and 1t is plain that a total
IalIure VIII be a disaster. speaking
IN terms OF the approaching Con-
gress election Of 1922. Europe will
/ am satisfied, offer the United
states unqualified support for its
Eastern programme and for its dis
armament ideas, provided the
United States is prepared to 60 the
same lengths in assuring European
nations in matters Of equal i'm.
portance to them. That is the first
line.
May Seek Compromise.
Assuming that Europe meats
with stony negation in the first
manoeuvre, which means alIiancs
pure and simple, the next stem Is
equally plain. Europe will then en-
1eavor to force a compromise be-
tween us and the Japanese which
Will obviate the possibility of arous-
ing Japanese anger and reprisal.
But a compromise means not the
open door and the integrity of
China but a partition of China, a
new application of the old princi-
pie Of spheres of interest" This
Is the way Europe settles its quar-
rels. This, is the way, through
British influence, France and Ger
many momentarily avoided war
over the Moroccan dispute,
British and French statesmen will
seek to discover some sort of form
ula, and formulate are the easiest
things for diplomats 20 find, which
VIII avoid trouble. The whole OBJ
tect Of European craftsmanship,
once IL discovers that an American
alliance is not to be had, will be
to avoid trouble in the Far East.
And, as have pointed oct, II must