Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-12-18


Anglo-Japanese alliance as a N
There may be every element Of truth
in the statements that Great Britain
rangement in the Pacific, afterward
modified to include France. but it can
be stated with authority that such a
suggestion would not have been con-
sidered here except for the fact that
it happened to coincide with the presi-
dents previously expressed views.
These views should have been known,
and probably were known in London as
early as last January. The British
proposal for a wider treaty to sup
plant the Anglo-Japanese alliance was
not made until last summer.
4. HardIng's Ideas
President HardinEs theory of inter-
national accord and the maintenance OF
world peace is as simple as it is prac-
tical. The president stated very
frankly to some Of his callers at Mar
ion last winter that he was forever
opposed to the institutional charac-
ter of the League Of Nations with all
of it's cumbersome machinery and com
mandments. He declared that his idea
Of the way to accomplish something
practica. in the world was to get four
or five of the big nations together and
let them agree upon line Of action:
He held that if the big nations reached
an agreement it was certain that the
smaller nations could be induced, by
entirely proper means to go along.
The president at that time made a
very homely sirnile. For purposes of
illustration he took the small Ameri-
can town. If it was desired to in
augurate some civic enterprise, the
president said, the method Of proceed
ure always was TO- interest the tour
or five big and Influential men OF
the community in the undertaking. ii
they agreed to cooperate, the success
of the. movement was assured, for the
smaller men of the community, the
smaller contributors to the public well
fare were certain to follow in the foot
steps of the natural leaders.
Only Needed Few
Mr.. Harding said he believed this
rule would hold as true Of nations as
men, especially when the movement to
betterment of mankind. Mr.. Harding
said he felt that such combination
of nations would not be justified If the
purpose of the association should be
one Of oppression. But where the as
sociation was one of guidance for the
rest of the world he felt that great
things could be accomplished merely
by calling the four or five big powers
into consultation
Further light on the presidents pur-
pose is shed by the fact that in Flor
ida last winter, just prior to his in
auguration, he told number of his
closer advisers, including Charles Ev-
ans Hughes, who at the time had just
rf hn orf-
folio of state, that he felt one of the
first great problems of his administra-
tion would have to do with the ar
rangement. Of better relations with
Japan. Mr. Harding felt the Jap
anese question was very urgent one
and that conditions were developing
which might easily lead to a very EN-
barrassing situation.
Plans Carried Out
Feeling that Japan, and consequently
the entire Pacific situation must be
dwclt with at the Washington confer
ence, President Harding has with what
ever help Great Britain has been able
to give, put into effect the theory he
announced at Marion. He feels today
IL the four powers included in the new
Pacific treaty. cannot agree on all ques-
tions that arise, world peace is out of
the question. It would be fair. per-
haps, to say that the president be-
lieves they would be able to agree and
that causes for war in the Pacific
would be laid aside forever. 1t is true
that China remains not only a puzzle
but a problem. Yet Mr.. Harding holds
that in dealing justly with China it is
necessary that Japan, Great Britain
and the United States be in complete
accord. This accord he believes has
been arranged.
If in the future questions arise in
other parts of the world in which
it is felt the United States has Sc
rious interest or a duty to perform,
1t will undoubtedly be the purpose
of President Harding to arrange an
other executive committee Of the big
powers to deal with it, 1t is the
presidents theory that the town meet
ing is idealstic democracy, but the
town meeting can be effective only
through smau committee Of its lead
ing lights.