Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-12-29
FOUR -POWER PACT
MAY BE AMENDED
BY JUNIUS b. WOOD
Especial Dispatch to The Atlanta Journal
Chicago Daily News-Copyright 1921


Chicago Daily News-Copyright, 1921
WASHINGTON, Dec. 27.-Indica-
tions from conference sources today
are that the four-power pact will be
amended so as to exclude the main
land Of Japan from the purview OF
insular possessions when it appears
in treaty form. The suggestion for
the change is to come from the Japa-
nese delegation and in accordance
with instructions which it is au-
thoritatively reported are coming
from Toxic. With this change made
the pact will accord with the first
Interpretation given to it by Presi-
dent Harding, and much Of the cause
for opposition already voiced by SEN
ators and a portion of the Pacific
coast will be removed.
1t is rather an amusing demonstra-
ton of the trivial causes which lead
to international MISUNDERSTANDING
that the rumblings OF opposition
which have developed to the pact In
both Japan and the United States
are based on the same point-the in
clusion of Japan proper. In Japan
the press and opposition leaders are
an affront to the nations pride and
integrity while here the same fea'
ture is pointed out as giving Japan
undue preference over the other
three powers who are parties to 1t.
Under such circumstances it is not
expected to be difficult to secure
modification before it is put in final
form.
At the time the pact was being
considered by the representatives OF
Great Britain, Japan and the Unit
ed States. Admiral Baron kato
originally took the position that ia
pan proper should not be included.
Arthur Balfour argued that as all
the British islands in the Pacific, in
Guiding Australia and New Zealand.
were within the scope of the agree
ment, it would undoubtedly be more
pleasing to the latter two if no dis
elimination were made between
islands regardless of whether they
We're colonies or seats Of home gov
eminent. That was assented to.
However, Mr.. Balfour's argument
also suggested another viewpoint
and Japan resents being rated with
British colonies even if they are as
important as either Australia or New
Zealand.
Japan considers that she is capa-
BILE Of protecting her own mainland
from attack and is willing to assume
the responsibility alone. Another
point which has been brought up in
TOXIC IS that in case the Japan main
land were attacked, the empire
would be obligated by the pact to
consult with the other three powers
before defending itself.
The new modification will, natural
Iy, call for a definition of Japan
proper. The general definition is
that it consists of the main island OF
Hondoon on which Toxic and the prin-
cipal cities are located and the three
islands of Hokkuaido, Skiku and
Kyushu. Whether it also includes
the Kurile islands stretching from
Hokkaido to Kamchatka, the south
half of Sakhalien, and to the south
ward, the Bonins, Loochoos, Formosa
and the Pescadores, must be accept
ed by the conference. If all of these
are included in Japan, with Korea
a peninsula and the 1000 islands in
the japanese mandate covered by a.
other treaty, there will not be any
possession of Japan affected by the
pact.
Involved in the same definition is
the question whether the north half
of SakhaIin island which has been
held by a Japanese expedition since
2 June of last year is considered
possession Of Japan. Japan has an
nounced that she will eventually
withdraw from this and from the
even larger portion of the old Sakha-
lin territorial district on the main
land of Siberia, but she is in pos
session now and the question has
been raised whether the other three
powers by signing the pact sanction
that possession.
The distinction between mainland
and island possessions of Japan is
also pertinent in the final solution of
Notifications in the Pacific. Under
the agreement island Notifications
and naval bases, except in Hawaii.
Australia and New Zealand, are to
remain in their present condition.
However, the same restriction does
not apply to the home shores Of the
four powers and the question nat
urally arises, especially as to For
mosa, which Of the islands are con.
sidered the home shores of Japan.
It is certain that Japan is not linn
tied to the main islands of Hondo
as Shimoniseki and Tsurgaru straits,
Tsushima and the inland sea are now
included in the fortified zone.
So far as the United States is con.
cerned the same question arises in
regard to the Aleutian islands
stretching out from Alaska with
Dutch harbor several hundred miles
closer to Japan than Hawaii is.
Apple TartS