The Washington herald., 1922-01-20
VERSAILLES AGAIN
Simonds Sees Mr.. Hughes
Caught in Same Trap
AS Mr.. Wilson.
BELIEVES PEOPLE
WILL KICK TRACES
America Bested Every
where by Britain and
Japs, Says Writer.
Bv FRANK H. SIMONDS.

Nv MANN - s@AsA - ~ - ~
The Washington conference is
rapidly going the way of the Paris
conference and for precisely the
same reasons.
This is the inevitable conclusion
one must draw from the events of
the last few days. particularly be-
cause of the decisive defeat over
the latest American proposal to
protect China. Three years ago in
April / told my readers that the
league of nations was dead so far
as America was concerned and that
there would be no peace settlement
reached.
The concIusions reached then hold
good in the present case. Then IL
was becoming quite apparent that
the American people would never
accept the commitments. compro-
misses and concessions made in their
name at Paris, but made without
their knowledge. Today the situs-
tion is not different
Caught In Trap.
Within the past week we have
consented to amendments in pro-
posed treaties which would bind us
not to fortify our own territory
while no similarly restrictive
agreements have been undertaken
on the same scale by our neighbors.
At this moment we are proposing
a Chinese arrangement which is
tantamount to a complete abandon
ment OF China and seeking to give
rN4e
for the American principle Of the
"open door"
Meantime IL is becoming palmer
daily that the revolt against the
commitments made in the present
conference by the American dele.
gates is spreading in the Senate.
Already almost certainly il dooms
all ten of the treaties which are
now planned. A month ago II was
difficult to count six votes against
the proposed treaties. Today the
opposition is counted to be more
than thirty and il is even asserted
on good authority that but one vote
is lacking in the Senate to defeat
all the conference commitments.
But One Achievement.
There is. so far, but a single def
mite achievement and that is the
four-power treaty covering the Pa
cific regions. But il is already
known 1hat this treaty must be
amended to exclude the main islands
of Japan. il il is to have even a
remote chance of passing the Sem
ate. Moreover. IL is equally clear
that ratification is wholly contin-
gent upon a proper Chinese settle
ment.
The fve-power naval treaty. once
definitely agreed upon, has also
been recalled for amendment. Such
amendment will exclude from the
non n-fortifyinG provisions all of the
chief island possessions Of Japan
and Britain, while retaining the
American. This means that in ad-
dition to making a fair proposal for
mutual limitation of armaments in
capital ships we have been forced
in order to purchase British ana
japanese assent TO deprive our
selves of the right to defend part
of our own territory. Neither ia
pan nor Britain will consent to bal
ancinC sacrifices. Thus the 5-5-3
fact. for without naval bases we are
inferior to Britain and Japan in the
Far East
Capital ships Cut Only.
As consequence of the Anglo
French row over the submarine,
there will be no limitation of arma-
ment outside of capital ships. This
means that there may still be In
tensive competition in these naval
arms universally recognized as the
weapons of the future. namely, air
planes andsubmarines. Actual lin
itation is thus restricted to the cb-
solescent capital ships.
Status Quo in East.
There has been no agreement
upon any real adjustment in the
Far East and with respect of China,
The board of referen.e described in
Mr.. Hughes latest ''bomosheli"
proves this to have been no more
than a "dud." and 1T is already
known that China will not accept
anything like what is now pro-
posed as a Far Eastefn sclutioH.
All Chinese experts and friends Of
China agree that the latest pro-
posal amounts to no more than a
smokescreen covering failure and
assert that the board of reference
holds out not the smallest prospect
of usefulness. Not only China, but
Holland. will refuse to sign that
Far Eastern treaty. which is called
the Nine-Power treaty and is de-
signed to deal with the Far East
ern question. The elimination of
Article " spells the complete frus-
tration of ALI hope offered by this
latest proposal
China Not to Sign.
Today I have the best authority
for the statement that the Chinese
after certain hesi-
tations. are united in toe resolve
not to sign anything now proposed
and to follow the example ~ the
Chinese delegates at Paris, who re-
fused to sign the treaty OF YER
sailles. But IL the Chinese refuse
to sign, the Four-Power. treaty
takes on totally. different char
acter. In fact what we have done
Continued an Pdgc Fire.