The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1922-01-06
SIMONDS SEES
U. 5. TANCLE In
5-POWER TREATY
Expresses Surprise That
Jap-Franco Pact Would
Not Be Abrogated.
Confined from Page one.

Continued from Page Ohe.
strengthen the relations of amIty
between them and to remove from
these relations all causes of mis-
understanding for the future. have
decided to conclude the following
arrangement: The governments of
Japan and France. being agreed to
respect the independence and in
tegrity of China, as well as the
principle of equal treatment in that
country for the commerce and sub
jects or citizens of all nations, and
having a special interest to have
the order and pacific state of things
preserved especially in the regions
of the Chinese empire adjacent to
the territories where they have the
rignts->of sovereignty, protection
or occupation. engage to, support
each other for assuring the peace
and security in those regions, with
a view to maintain the respective
situation and the territorial rights
of the two high. contracting parties
on the continent of Asia"
Examination of this document
raises several questions at once.
First of all. Why did not the four
power treaty provide that this
Franco-Japanese alliance should be
terminated when the four power
treaty should be ratified? Second.
What complications. are involved in
a four-power agreement amongst
France, Great Britain, the United
states and Japan, covering the re-
gions of the Pacific Ocean, and the
two-power treaty between Japan
xK-ith th in
land of China? Under the four
power treaty we are bound to con-
suit with Japan in case she feels
| herself threatened by any power
| within or without the agreement
But the slightest examination OF
the terms Of the Franco-Japanese
alliance demonstrates a fertile field
for differences between Japan and
| France on the one hand, and China
or Russia on the other. Indeed, the
recent charges of the Tchita gov
eminent take on a slightly different
| aspect when viewed in the light OF
the language of this treaty.
Four-NatIon Association.
At the present moment it would
seem that the four-power treaty
establishes an association amongst
! four nations in the Pacific. Two OF
them - Great Britain and Japan -
were bound by a formal alliance
two-Japan and France-by a kind
of contract which closely resembles
an alliance. Since the four-power
treaty does not specifically provide
for the termination of the two
power treaty, it remains, living and
| effective. Japan is thus able to call
upon France for support in any
questions arising on the mainland
of Asia and in any conference called
as consequence of difficultie:
arising on the mainland of Asia
France and Japan would seen
| bound to act in unison within tht
four-power conference, one of thu
| functions of which is to determine
what. il any, action shall be takeI
in view of existing conditions.
Inquiry discloses the fact that uT
to the present moment there have
been no discussions whatever in the
conference looking to abrogatior
of the Franco-Japanese alliance
There was a suggestion yesterda!
that possibly this treaty might
disposed of in the nine-power treat!
also in process of drafting. but there
was very frank declaration that