Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-11-23

Of events in Washington. They are Civ
ing up an alliance that henceforwaTd will
cease TO have any real utility. 1t will
be redundant. It will be political tau
tOlogy 1t will be a pact guaranteeing
two Far Eastern powers in fields OF eco
Monies and naval affairs. whose inter
ests in both directions already are safe
guarded by a combination far more pow
erful than their own. The essential trade
privileges of Great Britain and japan
will be guaranteed by the eight-power
agreement into which they themselves are
about to join hands with America. France,
Italy, Belgium, The Netherlands and
Portugal. The naval security Of Great
Britain and Japan will be certified and
sanctifed by the tri-partite agreement for
fxatiOn Of armament at sea, proposed by
the United States, and about to be &C
eepted by them all.
So much Of vital moment is destined
to spring from the Washington con-
ference that 1t is difficult to foreshadow
what particular achievement will stand
forth as the outstanding one. But by
those who discern international good in
a closer impeachment among the Eng
lish speaking nations the impending dis
solution Of the AnglO-Japanese alliance
de resistance.
Lord Northcliffs has been holder than
most Of his country men in calling
spake a spade a spade and describing
the pact with Japan as the chief barrier
to genuine British-American fraternity.
But though his has been the only voice
to speak out In open meeting, Ii is not
an isolated voice. His view has plenty
of British opponents IN Washington at
this moment. They are to be found among
the British delegation.
JAPs WON'T
SHED TEARS.
In the confidential moments that come
to pass every day, when American and
British conference leaders get together,
the British realization OF Americas OBJ
jections to the japanese alliance is
frankly expressed. Therefore the silent,
unostentations passing Of the pact, far
from grieving the British, gratified them.
Were they TO be brutally frank, they
would concede that circumstances are
conspiring in Washington to remove
them from the horns OF an embarrassing
dilemma.
The japanese probably win shed more
tears over the bier Of the alliance than
the British But they, too, are prepared
10 master their woe. Their spokesman
at the conference already tell you the
spirit" Of the alliance is dead. For
both parties, men Of Nippon concede, 1t
has served its purpose. The Russian
danger in the East has evaporated. The
German menace is no more. Japan is
firmly convinced that, In no conceivable
set Of circumstances, could she hope to
invoke the British alliance for purposes
of war with the United States. So Japan
* " 70 70 oil tho
greatness some Of her militant people
still discern IN the partnership with the
former mistress Of the seas.
Australians position in the conference
on all matters affecting the AnglO-Jap-
anese alliance was stated officially to-
night. If the treaty is TO be perpetuated
after the current provisional year of its
prolonged existence, Australia would pre-
fer its modification on lines making in
dubitably clear that the alliance is, in
no way, aimed at the United States. If
the alliance could, in some form accepta-
BILE to this country, be amplihed or al
tered so as to embrace America, that
would be a most desirable development,
from the Australian standpoint. States
men from Britain's great South Sea do
miniOn are aware Of incorrgible Amer
lean objections to an alliance" They
ing" or an agreement" or any arrange
ment, indeed. suitable TO the United
States
AUSTRALIA
AGAINST ALLIANCE.
Hitherto mistaken notions have pre-
vailed in America regarding Australian
opinion Of the Japanese alliance. At the
time of the imperial conference in Lon
don last summer. impressions took root
here Great Britain was at loggerheads
with her dominions on the alliance sub
ject-that the mother country was for
renewal, and the dominions for canceIla-
ton.
Australia is not overweeningIy fond
OF the japanese, but she is not disposed
to throw the alliance overheard with
out some definite substitute which viii
give the Sominions that measure Of pro-
lection against japanese aggression
which TIE alliance provides.
Canada takes more advanced ground
She il outright against continuance Of
the alliance. She feels-other Britishers
ssy-that the proximity OF the United