New-York tribune., 1921-12-04
" in
In Conference.
Is British View
American ID Diplomacy, Frank,
Friendly and Simple, Is
Scoring It's First World
Wide Victory, Says Wilson
Balfour Visits New York
Expected to Make Vigorous
Fight Against Submarines
at Next Plenary Session
By p. w. Wilson

~ ASSMs ACAASA AJCSoAOAA
By p. w. Wilson
Far years American correspondent Of
''TAe London Daily Ncsos" and former
Member of Parliament.
WASHINGTON, Dec. S.---History is
now in the making and the progress
is rapid. For once the pessimists,
who were many, have been routed by
the optilnists, who were few, and so
assured are the prospects Of the con-
ference that Mr.. Balfour, the chief
British delegate, has left the scene of
action for several days and will visit
New York. There may be slips be-
tween the cup and the lir, but the
atmosphere is full of hope. What
Bismarck called the impondernbles--
those factors which cannot be precise
ly defined--are thrown into the right
scale. The diplomacy of the United
States, frank, friendly and simple, is
winning its first worldwide victory.
Between this country, Britain and
Japan a provisional agreement has
been reached over their respective
navies, based on the American
formula, $3.50. This provisional
agreement is subject to certain hith-
erto undisclosed conditions, possibly
affecting naval bases, the battleship
Mqtsu and the technical points arising
out OF naval holiday lasting for ten
years II is also understood that Mr..
baitour is still pressing for the total
abolition of submarines. on which sub
ject he may address the whole con-
terence at a plenary session.
Sees Menace TO Neutrals
Mr.. Balfour is unconvinced that sub
marines assist the smaller powers.
such powers are often neutral, and it
is from submarines that neutral ship
ping. suffers so severely. Mr.. Balfour's
1ufther argument is held to be that
supma rines cannot be used without be-
ing abused. They cannot capture mer-
cnantmen and bring them to prize
court, but can only sink these ships at
sight, without making any provision
between submarines and aeroplanes
Mr.. Bsifour draws a clear distinction.
he admits that in time Of war saro-
planes may drop bombs on peaceful
cities and that these bombs may con-
tain poison gas. But the aeroplane
has commercial value in time of
peace and 1t cannot be outlawed. Nor
san the progress of chemical manu-
facture be arrested merely because the
same plant may be used either to pro-
Ie auce perfumes or to produce poisons.
Jhe submarine, on the other hand, has
no commercial value. It is built for
war, and only for war.
In Mr.. Balfour's opinion, therefore. a
prohibition of submarines would pre-
vent their rapid construction and use
even after. hostiiities had broken out,
because no crews would be practiced in
handling the underwater boats. When.
therefore, plenary session is held to
receive the reports of the committee
on naval disarmament a strong pro-
test against the continued use Of sub
marines may be expected from the
British delegates.
Two Points Still Unsettled
In the mean time the provisional
agreement or. the navy has been trans
mitted to Toxic for the consideration
OF the Japanese Cabinet. Part Of the
general settlement is believed to be a
definite understanding over China.
This understanding does not vet in
clude Shantung. which is under sepa-
rate negotiation between China and
Japan, and another item on the arenda.
namely, Eastern Siberia, has still to
be taken up by the committee on Pa
cific problems. Over these particular
matters, however, no serious dificul-
ties are expected. The students Or
nationalists of China are, Of course,
vocal, but their protests appear to be
The report from Toxic that memo
randum for a treaty between the
United States, Japan, Britain and
France will be signed in week puts
the case, perhaps, little too crudely.
bodied, doubtless, in writing, but their
form can scarcely be so simple as a
single treaty. In the first place, IL
must be remembered that FIVE powers
only are taking part in the discussion
OF ornaments, whereas nine powers
are included in the discussion Of the
Far East. This means surely that
there must be at least two docu-
montary instruments-the one to in
clude and the other to omit the sigma
lures Of China. Belgium. Holland and
Portugal.
Formal Treaty Improbable
In the next place, it is not to be
assumed that either or both of these
documentary instruments will be tech
nically known as "a treaty" 1t depends
on circumstances, and this aspect Of
the subject Is by no means free from
perplexity.
Many Of the most powerful papers
in American diplomacy have been other
than treaties. Instances of these less
formal documents are the Monroe Doc
trine, the Platt amendment defining
the status Of Cuba, the gentlemen's
agreement limiting immigration on the
Pacific Coast, the open door, as defined
by Mr.. Hay, Root. Takahira and
Lansing-Ishii notes, and, unless I am
mistaken, the agreement with Canada
to leave the frontier unfortifed and to
Danish warships from the Great Lakes.
In any event, there are innumerable
precedents for an honorable under
standing between governments which
does not take the form Of a treaty.
Written Agreement Preferable
There may be reasons why such an
understanding would be most con-
venient in the case Of the schedule for
the navies. A formal treaty might be
held to infringe Parliamentary or Con
gressional right to determine each
year what shall and what shall not be
spent on the public services. A written
understanding would avoid this DIFF,
hculty and would yet accomplish all
that Ia desired and intended.
Whether the assent OF France and