The Washington herald., 1921-12-13
The Four-Power Treaty.

really great achievement. 1t may not be.
epoch making" but it is the most distinctive ad-
of modern times in international agreement
aimed solely to preserve peace through good
Outstanding and not result of war. There is no
occasion for the general American attitude, includ
ing that of Senator Lodge in presenting it to the
plenary conference, Of introduction with apollo
ges if it "a poor thing but it is mine own"
The Senator even set the fashion of it's comparison
with the league of nations and specifically
with Article X, fashion which has been univer-
sally followed
But why so punctous? What difference does
it make how like, unlike this treaty may be to
the covenant? 1t is right. 1t is good for each Of
the sgners. 1t ends years of suspicion and menace
of That its Article II differs from Article X
four does from forty is hardly matter of con-
sequence one way the other. Moreover, this
treaty will be approved by the people OF this coun
try and Article X was not, and it will be ratified
in the Senate, which the covenant was not and it
not drafted by Mr.. Wilson.
Having avoided ratifying the treaty of Yer
saes by calling it the treaty OF Berlin, the Repub
lcan irreconciables cannot bak at this modest
alliance for mutual seli-protecton, while the Demo-
Gratis, having already voted for a separate treaty
with Germany rejecting totally everything that had
a Wlsonan faint, can hardly refuse themselves this
Of comfort in a resemblance to. Article Y.
There is much here for everyone and excuse for
Besides which, that Sim Fem has
clasped hands with John Bull surely Uncle Sam
may be permitted to touch fingers with him.
Nor is it OF consequence that this treaty is
what Great Britain and Japan came to Washing
to achieve. 1t fufls what Lloyd George an
nounced to the as hoped-for result to
take the place OF the British Japanese treaty which
is passe and ready for discard its being
gratihes that everlasting, never-endng, obtruding
egotism of Japan expressed "sensitiveness" or
racial pride national conce 1t is quite of course
that this treaty in advance Of Japan's
agreement to the naval ratio. 1t two weeks
ago The Herald said that it was a good omen
for practical results that back of the scenes with
out the suspicion of any other power of the fact
Great Britain has probably taken control. The first
result is practical sensible and pretty nearly Hob
sons choice.
1t is little treaty, only four short articles one
OF these providing for ratification and one fixing its
period at ten years. just that of the proposed navy
building vacation. The real substance is therefore,
in but two articles. The first binds the four pow
TO respect their rights in relation to their in
sular possessions and insular dominons in the
region of the Pacific Ocean. Primarily this means
the United States and Japan Great Britain and
France come in good measure 1t is further
agreed that if any two have differences which ap-
pear to be serious there shall be four-party con-
ference to talk it all over and adjust it.
Article ii provides that ''if the said rights
threatened by the aggressive action of any other
power, the high contracting parties shall commun
cate with another fully and frankly in order to
arrive at understanding as to the most efficient
measures to be taken jointly separately to meet
the exigences Of the particular occasion"
1t has been said this is more like The Hague
than Paris. 1t is just about as much like The
Hague as hootch is like skim milk 1t means that
if Russia, Germany, or both, or any other combina-
ton threatens aggressive action the four are morally
bound to stand together. 1t is diplomatic language
for a defensive alliance more, no less And
why not? The United States has as much to gain
any OF the rest. 1t means peace, good will, good
trade, security with the only power that is a
possible menace. 1t changing the only
source of trouble to source of friendship good
will and understanding If this article is defen-
sive alliance, no other combination OF powers will
fool around the Pacific. If it is only wobble, a
pretense, sort Of sneak-trck then some day some
other combination may try it out.
There just the four whose territorial pos
respect each others possessions and keep away anv
themselves in the worlds greatest ocean Article
of the covenant carries exactly the same agree
ment as to all continental countries and their pos
sessions everywhere The one may be child's pIav
compared to mans job, but they are sisters
under their skin"