Evening star., 1921-12-12
ANALYH
| 4POWER TREATY
Meanings, implications and
Benefits Grouped by Law
yers and Diplomats.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.


tions and benefits of the new four
power treaty between the United
States. Japan, Great Britain and
France have now been assembled by
the experts. international lawyers and
diplomats and can be catalogued
somewhat as follows:
First, the new treaty gets rid Of the
Anglo-Japanese alliance. The benefit
directly is to the United States on
this point as the alliance was con-
sidered a menace to America.
Second. 1t saves the face of Japan.
which was in the awkward position Of
having her great ally, the British
empire, withdraw from an alliance.
The benefit here is to both Great
Britain and Japan in moral values
and continuance of friendship.
Guarantee to Philippines.
Third. it guarantees the Philippines
against aggression by any power and
enables the United States to rely upon
the moral support. If not physical
help. of any of the other three powers
IN the event of aggression against the
Philippines. This is of direct value
to the United States as it makes the
fortiffcation of the Philippines no
longer as important as has heretofore
been thought necessary.
Fourth, it assures Australia, New
Zealand and Canada q new deal. In
stead of having to wrestle with the
intricacies of an alliance in which
ONE nation of the white race Is pitted
against one nation of the yellow race,
the new pact introduces three ma
tions of the white race. thus making
Australia feel confident of sympathy
in the event of disputes arising out
of immigration matters. This Is of
direct benefit to the British domin-
ions in the Pacific and, of course, to
the government of Great Britain, for
it helps preserve the solidarity Of
the British empire.
Fifth. the new treaty does not i'll
clude China directly and applies no
restraint upon Japanese pretensions
on the mainland of Asia. referring
only to Pacific islands. Thus far this
IS OF benefit to Japan, as she does
not contemplate quarrels with the
powers about islands in the Pacific,
in China. There will be another
agreement about China, but so far
as the four-power treaty is con-
cerned. 1t does not hinder Japan on
the mainland Of Asia.
Sixth, the new treaty binds four
SicdI pO"cTS IOSStHeE III d lie"
treaty of peace which concerns di-
rectly only the islands of the Pacific.
but which has a value in creating q
moral partnership between all the
four countries.
Comparison With "Article X"
As for the comparisons between ar
ticle X of the league of nations cove
nant and article II of the new treaty,
the main point about that is the as
surance 1t gives Of democratic support
in the Senate, which means ultimate
ratification, though no doubt there
will be extensive debate and the four
power pact will be viewed in the light
Of other agreements on the far east
which will have been reached by that
-ime. A document is beinb drawn
covering the general principles that
but 1t remains to be seen whether IL
requires treaty form.
Incidentally. administration off,
Gals pointed out today that the negO-
uation of the four-power pact was
hasy fradoaa radsa pacS ar the from Tnsd ss
States. The language of article II
of the new treaty was compared with
previous declarations on the part of
the United States in the Root-Taka-
door" notes. In fact, the experts who
drew the new four-power treaty
acknowledge that they appropriated
the language of the Anglo-Japanese
alliance as well as American declara-
tons.
How New Treaty Was Built Up.
The following comparison shows
how the new treaty was built up.
First. taking the text Of article Il of
the treaty, as announced by Senator
Lodge last Saturday. it reads:
IF the said rights are threatened
by the aggressive action of any other
power. the high contracting powers
shall communicate with one another
fully and frankly in order to arrive at
an understanding as to the most eff
cient measures to be taken, jointly or
separately, to meet the exigencies of
the particular situation"
Now the Root-Takahira agreement
Of November, 1908. provides under ar
ticle v that:
ening the status quo of the Pacific or
the principles Of equal oportunity, it
remains for the two governments (the
United States and Japan) to COM
municate with each other in order to
arrive at an understanding az to what
measures they may consider it USE
full to take"
AnSlo-Japanese Pact Quoted.
Going still further into the text of
the Anglo-Japanese alliance, the fol-
lowing article was appropriated:
1T Is agreed that, whenever. in the
opinion of either Great Britain or
Japan, any of the rights and interests
referred to in the preamble are in
jeopardy, the two governments will
communicate with one another fully
and frankly and will consider in COM
mon the measures which should be
taken to safeguard those menaced
rights and interests"
Japan was thus persuaded that the
vital part Of the AngloJapanese alliance.
namely. partnership and consultation
with Great Britain, was retained. AL
though. of course, the new pact sub
tracts China from the situation, II
leaves on the other hand the four
powers 50 closely allied that it is 10
be expected they will Communicate
with each other fully and frankly"
not only about insular possessions
but all vital disputes arising in the
Tar east.
Copyright. 1917
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