The New York herald., 1921-12-23


tives OF the Japanese newspapers that
he replied to this statement by point
ing out the possibility Of the treaty
terms affecting the internal and do
mestic interests of his country. He is
said to have expressed fear that the
inclusion of Japan in the treaty might
be regarded by the Japanese people as
en- offense to their dignity because Of
exclusion of the mainland OF the
United States. the only other party to
the treaty whose mainland borders on
the Pacific. He is understood to have
expressed the opinion that the Japa-
nese people would construe the in
clusion of Japan in the treaty as indi-
eating a paternalistic view of 1t on
the part of the other signatories.
The Japanese Ambassador declined
to proceed further with the discussion
until he had consulted his associates.
An adjournment was taken until the
next day. when Baron Shidehara re-
turned and said that the interpreta-
ton that the japanese homeland would
come within the scope OF the treaty
was acceptable to his country.
Question Really Not Vital.
According to Japanese, British, as
also American delegates, it was agreed
that the exclusion or inclusion of the
Japan homeland was not really impor-
| tant as the treaty did not propose to
guarantee protection to any OF the
"insular possessions and insular do
minions' of the four Powers in the
region of the Pacific Ocean. 1t was
also held to be a matter OF course
that no explanation of the fact was
actually necessary and so no attempt
was made to clear up the question
which has provoked widespread critl-
cism and unfriendly agitation.
The final touches of the treaty are
said by the Japanese to have been
applied by Mr.. Hughes an6 Mr.. Bal
four. The finished product was ap-
proved without question by repre-
sentatives Of the four nations, al
though NJ N. Viviani did suggest a
more exact definition of the scope OF
the instrument than was provided. He
did not press this point, however, and
expressed himself satisfied with the
view of Mr.. Hughes, Mr.. Balfour and
Baron Shidehara that the instrument
did not require further lucidity than
was contained in the final terms.
The first criticism of the treaty
among Senators was that 1t guaran-
l teed the integrity of Japan or at least
contained assurances which could be
interpreted as doing so. For the first
three or four days Secretary Hughes,
4 Nf Vtx,so n6
Shidehara ignored these criticisms.
When the criticisms continued with
increasing volume Mr.. Hughes frankly
declared that the provisions Of the
treaty embraced the Japan homeland
because it was composed OF "insular
| possessions and insular dominions"
and not because it was Japan proper.
In Calculating this view he said the
| treaty applied to japan only in the
same way that it applied to Australia,
New Zealand (Which are held by the
British to be homelands), and to the
! Hawaiian Islands, which are part OF
! the American homeland. The British
delegates concurred in this view, as
also did the Japanese and French
representatives.
1t was therefore with surprise that
the statement Of President Harding
on Tuesday that. Japan was not in
cluded in the scope of the treaty was
! received. The President made his
| statement in reply to a casual ques-
| ton asked by a reporter during the
conference he holds twice week.
His declaration was hailed by the
hostile group in the Senate as indi-
eating one Of two things: The first
was that "the President had been de-
| ceived by Secretary Hughes" The
other was that che (the President)
had not been informed as to the terms
of the treaty."
The. obvious difference of opinion
between the President and his Secre-
iaYy of State naturally encourages
,ritics of the foreign policies Of the
Government to assert that the treaty
was intended to guarantee superior
privileges to Japan that were denied
to other countries.
There is no question that the con-
hicting views of the President and
Secretary Hughes exercised a tre-
mendous effect on the Senate and tc
| some GNteIll tHc
The reaction was so marked and
prompt that Senator Underwood
Democrat. and Senator Lodge. Repub-
lican (members Of the American dele
gation), went to the White House and
discussed the matter with the Presi-
! dent.
President Corrects Impression.
At the end of this conference the
President issue a statement recalling
his declaration earlier in the day and
asserting to the Interpretation of the
American delegates who were in ac-
cord with the views of the British
Japanese and French representatives,
Instead of dscouraging further agi-
tation Of hostile character, the frank
admission of the President that he
had been mistaken in his first utter
ance inspired opponents Of the treaty
to launch a campaign designed to ac-
| complsh the defeat of the four Power
pact and probably all other interna-
| tional agreements originating in OF
| resulting from the conference.
The "irreconcilable' group in the
Senate. led by Borah on the Republi-
can side and Reed on the Democratic
| is opposing the four Power treaty or
the ground that it is too nearly like
the League of Nations in that 1t con-