The New York herald., 1921-12-19
Nay Seek Pacts With Nations
Holding Mandates Under
Treaty of Versailles.
CAN Use VICTIMS RIGHT
Question Raised That Amer
lea Recognizes Claims By Ac-
cepting 4 Power Pact.
By RALPH COURTNEY.

Special Dispatch TO TIE New YonK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. G.. Dec. IL.
The United States is reported TO be
about to negotiate q whole series of
treaties with states holding mandates
under the Treaty Of Versailles. This is
necessltated by the fact that America
declined to join the League OF Nations
and is therefore deprived Of such priv
ileges as her nationals might have ex-
pected il she had been party to the
Versailles treaty.
1t is even reported that the American
Government already is negotiating with
the Governments OF Australia and New
Zealand. although it Is not yet certain
whether all inundated territories in
which the British Empire is concerned
may not be dealt with by a single Anglo
American treaty.
Tho big stick which America holds
over the heads OF countries interested in
inundated territories is that she has
never recognized the validity of the
transfer Of German territory to the ma
tions In question. America has main
tanned that she is one-fifth creditor in
any German property disposed OF by the
victorious Allies. and she has so far with
held her recognition Of such transfers as
have been made.
Hi; Flaw i'm Titles.
In consequence OF this. q. big flaw
exists in the titles by which England,
France, Japan. Belgium and other
countries hold territory taken from
Germany, and the question arises
whether America has not Willingly or
unwittingly recognized the validity OF
British. japanese. Australian and
New Zealand titles 20 treaty lands in
the Pacific by the signing OF the four
Power pact treaty.
Many explanations have been given
OF the motives behind the now FAM
ous four Power agreement. but none
appears completely to solve the mys-
terry. IT even has been alleged that
other things the territorial integrity
OF Japan. though il Is by no means
certain why Japan should be anxious
to have this guaranty. or why such
q treaty should be signed at all.
Others say that as 1t was necessary
TO scrap the Anglo-Japanese alliance.
a convenient waste basket was found
In the four Power treaty, which really
means very little or nothing at all.
It is known that England and Japan
camc TO Washington with q tripartite
agreement in their pocket, the terms
OF which were doubtless nearly the
same as those of the four Power
agreement subsequently signedl The
presumption also Is that tho terms
were very carefully worded. and that
whether they mean anything to Amer
lea or not. they seem very definite to
the British and Japanese.
Treaty Recognizes Rights.
The question is whether America
has not been conveniently forced in the
four Power treaty TO recognize all
titles to Pacific possessions granted
under the Treaty OF Versailles.
Europe's great anxiety to get America
TO join the League of Nations also was
connected with recognizing the disposal
OF the spoils of war. In order TO secure
Americas acceptance OF the pact the
European Powers showed their willing
ness on many occasions TO strike out
Article Y, or any and ell articles which
might offend the United States.
That America has validated and rec
ognized the rights OF the four parties to
the new treaty as against Germany
seems clearly shown by the text of the
Treaty of Washington, the parties TO
which agree mutually TO respect their
rights to the insular possessions and
dominions In the region of tho Pacific
Ocean. and particularly as against the
action OF any party outside the treaty.
The European and Asiatic signatories
TO this treaty may fairly hold that
America thereby morally guaranees, or
at least recognizes, the status quo IN
the Pacific. as constituted under the
Treaty OF Versailles and valves any
f,tti,ra yfDhf Of confeaf