Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-12-08
PLEDGE OF AM|TY
!. WILL NOT INVOLVE
i. S. IN ALLIANCE
Understanding Is to Cover
Possible Controversies
Over Islands.
NAVY RATIO PLAN WATTS
ACTION ON NEW ACCORD
President Harding Sees Con.
ference Results Exceed
ing Fondest Hopes"
rRy Associated press1


WASHINGTON. Dec. "a m,tu,,
pledge not to go TO war over dis
putes in the Pacific without a cool
ing-om period OF discussion ia tho
basis of the new four-power treaty
proposed as a substitute for the
Anglo-Japanese alliance.
Discussions of the proposal among
the arms delegates have reached n
wen advanced stage, although none
OF the governments concerned-the
united States. Great Britain. japan
ana France-has given its final an
.proval.
p A suggestion that the Anglo-Japa-
hese phct be revoked has gone to
London and Tokyo. Possible con-
'rVersies over the Pacific Islands
alone, exclusive of the Hawaiian
group and Zap. would come under
the provisions OF the new agreement.
zap is to be the subject Of n scpn-
rate treaty. negotiations for which
are nearing completion. and Hawaii
is to be considered for purposes OF
the agreement as par: OF the Ameri-
can mainland.
Will Not Touch On Chinn.
The problems OF China or other
portions OF the Asiatic mainland are
not TO be touched by the oroposed
treaty, nor will it contain pro-
visions relating to Pacific fortifca-
tions or the naval reduction pro-
gram. II is possible. however. that
all OF these questions may come
simultaneously to the point OF a
decision. BY the American dele
gates the project Is regarded as
establishing neither an alliance nor
an entente. but merely as applying
To the Pacific islands the principle
OF the thirty-odd Bryan peace
treaties to which the United states
already is n party. y public statement
setting forth that position prob
ably Will be made in the near flu
ture hy Secretary Hughes.
For the present. the authorized
American spokcsmen prefer to say
nothing about their conversations on
the subjects, which have been pro-
cceding entirely behind the curtain
OF executive sessions" Apparent.
ly the negotiations so far have been
kept within u very narrow circle
centcring in the "biS threc--Hughcs,
lsalrour aud Kato.
Harding Most Optimistic.
An evidence OF the optimism with
which American officials, who are In
ON the secret. view the general
situation in the arms conference was
given today, however. by President
Harding, who declared IN public
address that the negotiations prom
ised Ito succeed beyond our fondest
hopes" without making direct
reference to the proposed four
power agreement he predicted that
the Washington conference would
usher in n new day in international
amity.
All the outward indications point
to a merging OF the Pacific question
with the naval ratio problem so far
as the final decisions OF some OF the
foreign nations are concerned. No re-
ply from Tokyo regarding the naval
reduction plan now is expected until
the Japanese government also is
ready to make some expression on
the four-power proposal. 1t is pos
sible that in tho final analysis the
questions Of Shantung and China
generally may also hecome inter
woven in the general scheme before
specific and definite settlement OF
any of these elements Is reached.
Cnt