The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1921-12-16
PACIFIC PEACE
AGREEMENT

II HE United States, Great Britain,
L Japan and France have reached
an agreement for the sterilization of
peace In the Pacific, and this first def
mite accomplishment of the conference
In Washington was announced at
plenary session on Saturday. The plan
already had received the Endorsements
of the governments in London, Toki
and Paris and the approval of the
American administration, and 1t Is as
sumed that 1t will be ratified by con-
gress when submitted to 1t, since 1t Is
not drawn In the form Of an alliance
or entente which would be distasteful
to large element In the senate.
By this agreement the four powers
recognize the status quo Of the island
possessions of each in the Pacific and
undertake to settle by mediation or
arbitration any disputes that may arise
between two or more of the powers
concerning those possessions and that
are not settled by conference of the
four powers.
Upon the ratification of the pact by
the powers the Angl"-Japanese alli-
ance is to be terminated, which will
be pleasing not only to the United
States but also to the British domin-
ions. The abrogation of that alliance
will make it safe for America to re-
duce its navy and will permit close
cooperation between this country and
Britain In handling questions pertain
ing to the Pacific.
Since the other powers are pledged,
by the status quo agreement, to re-
frain from aggression against the Phil
ippines the islands are virtually nell
traliZed and the United States is re-
lieved of the necessity of strengthen
ing Its defenses there and in Guam
The agreement also operates to record
the recognition by America Of the
Japanese mandate over the former
German islands that lie north of the
equator. and it was understood that
the United States and Japan had
reached, outside the conference, a set
Element of their disputes over commun-
ication and commercial rights, espe-
cially those pertaining to the island of
zap.
With this quadrilateral agreement
reached, 1t is believed the other main
problems before the conference will M
speedily solved. The acceptance of
the Hughes naval reduction plan is at
hand, including the 5-5-3 ratio, for
even Japan will not hold out against
it now. The matter Of the strength of
the French and italian navies will be
settled at future conference, as will
be some of the problems relating to
China. However, before adjourning
the conference will do all it can with
the Chinese questions, and the Chinese.
when the situation is fully understood
by them, probably will have to be sat
iSfied with this.
japanese and Chinese delegates are
not getting along so we'll as was
hoped in their discussion of the evacu-
alton of Shantung, and the latter may
yet insist that the question be placed
before the conference without prelim-
mary settlement. The Chinese feel
that they are getting the worst of
things in the conference, and one or
two important members Of their dele
cation have resigned.
The conference committee on Far
East questions has pledged that the
nine powers it represents will respect
the neutrality of China in future wars
and has agreed on a wireless conven-
tion by which the various government
radio stations in legation compounds
shall be used only for government
messages, except when ordinary means
of Geographic communication are In
terrupted.