The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-11-23
Frederick Haskin's Ietter
correspondenee Of The Arrn.1 y
A TlUo-Po.Uer Conference.
Especial Correspondence of

pear to favor the latter eour..
Ihey say that if the United Srafa-
disarmed and withdrew from, ~
international struggle. other ~
TONS would inevitably follow sni,
But this is rather hard IN nro.s
1t seems more probable thar II ~.
United States withdrew her ma
ence from the orient she vo,15
merely leave it an open falA ~ ~
the imperialistic ambitions ~ 90
er nations, and that she wnnl5
eventually have to encounter t5is
Imperialism when it was mrob
stronger than it is today
If. then, the United States ia q,
remain a factor in the Pacific /, i
clear that the chief force wiz
which she has to contend is the i'm
perialism of Japan, supported bv
Great Britain. II is of the utmos,
Importance that the American mus
lie should understand these fsrts
But nothing would be more unfnr
tunate than for that understandin,
to create feeling against eitbap
Japan or Great Britain. There az
liberal and anti-militaristic forces in
Japan just as there are In Grea,
Britain. Likewise there are mil
taristic and imperialistic forces in
the United States. The situation
should be regarded as a struggle
of liberal forces in all countries
against war-making forces in all
countries. The japanese who is
liberal and wants peace and dis
armament is an ally Of the Ameri-
can in the same mind. And with
regard to Japan it must be remem-
bered that Japan's whole rise in
the world has been by war. and
that she owes her very existence
as nation to her army and navy
She is the only nation in Asia thai
has not been overwhelmed and ex-
plotted by the Europeans. She has
preserved her integrity by toting a
gun and she knows it. It cannot be
a matter for surprise. then, that
she is not quick to ley down that
gun.
AngIO-Jap Alliance.
None the less, world peace de,
ponds largely upon the renuncia-
ton by Japan of her imperialistic
in Asia generally and in
China in particular. These ambi-
tons are made possible largely by
her alliance with Great Britain. II
this alliance comes to an end. the
party in Japan will be
weakened. and without losing any
hing that is rightfully hers, Japan
will probably be forced to adopt a
foreign policy less menacing to her
neighbors and to the peace Of the
world.
1t is clear then that a leading
object of the conference for the
United States is to prevent a re-
lewal of the Anglo-Japanese al
lance. 1t is here, in the opinion
If experts, that our diplomacy will
De tested The alliance will proba-
ply be explained as one that does
lot in any way menace our inter
ests 1t is probable, too. that We
will be invited to join it, making
I a triple alliance
Inc AngiO-JapaneSe alliance mas
,een an extremely profitable rela-
ion for both of the principals.
They will not give it up without a
struggle But the best-infOrmed
opinion in this country is that
American interests demand a COM
,lete enforcement of British and
Japanese interests. and a definite
of Great Britain behind
American Pacific policy.
II should not be forgotten that
International agreements often have
.lauses which are not published
md sometimes work out in ways
hat could scarcely be deduced
rom their wording. It seems prob
Ible that American diplomacy and
American public opinion should
tand firmly against any sort OF
alliance regard
ess of its wording OF Of its pro
ected inclusion of this country. b.
eason of her financial strength
lone, America is in position TO
Enforce her point of view. If her
are shreWd enough.
American diplomacy was OWwitle1
t Versailles. Ii has been outWit-
ed at least once since then. In
there are many persons
Who expect it to be outwitted again
n Washington.