The New York herald., 1922-01-14
PACIFIC FORTS ISSUE
HOLDS UP SEA PACT
British Want Possessions
South of Equator Outside
Agreement.
DEMAND OF DOMINIONS
Australia and New Zealand
Ask Freedom of Action
in Fortifying.
JAPAN NOW CRITICAL
JAPAN NOW CRITICAL
Capital Ship Conversion Fea-
ture Held Not Difficult
to Adjust.

receives instructions from Toxic with
respect to certain details of the Pa
cific Notifications agreement the Big
Five OF the Conference for Limitation
OF Armament will be able quickly to
complete their work on the five Power
naval treaty.
It looked tonight as If the treaty
would be ready for presentation to a
plenary session by the Middle of next
week. ~ &
1t was reiterated that Great Britain
has not been the cause of the delay
in the completion of the naval work
and that the position of her delegates
had been reported enormously in re-
gard to the conversion of capital ships.
1t was declared that for economical
and other reasons Great Britain de-
sired to get rid of all ships she could.
1t was learned that Great Britain de-
sires to keep two capital ships for con-
version into training ships: that Japan
wishes to keep one capital ship with
turrets for use in target. practice, but
had withdrawn this proposal; that
France and Italy would like to save
from scrapping some capital ships for
gunnery practice, and that the United
States would keep two capital ships for
conversion into airpIane carriers.
Convention Problem Not Serious.
Final determination OF the question
of conversion. it was indicated, had not
been reached. but it was assured that
the question did not offer any real diff
ficulty.
But the real causes of delay now ap-
pear TO be the attitude of Great Brit
ain toward the inclusion of British Pa
cific possessions in the Notifications
agreement and the manner in which
the treaty will refer to the Japanese
homeland islands which are to be in
cluded
There is said to be some uneasiness
In regard to japanese public opinion
concerning the Notifications agreement
In view of the radical changes proposed
in Its contents, which would affect ma
terially its meaning.
The British and American delegates
have proposed TO change the text of
the naval treaty draft by deleting the
phrase Region of the Pacific" occur
ring In the clause relating to the main
tenance of the status quo in respect of
Qualifications. and the British, it was
stated on high authority to-day, desire
so to limit the application of the forti-
fications agreement as to make il prac-
tically imperative in regard to British
possessions in the Pacific.
1t Is proposed. In the first instance.
to define the longitude and latitude OF
that portion OF the region of the Pacific,
instead of the whole region OF the Pa
cific, to which the treaty will apply.
and the British in the sec.nd instance,
ask that its Qualifications provisions be
restricted TO the islands north of the
Equator. excluding the islands south of
the Equator. where virtually all the
British possessions In the Pacific lie.
Opposition TO Limitation.
The British. II is affirmed contem-
plate the fortifying of British Guinea,
and in addition Australia and New Zea-
land are represented as opposing the
placing of any limit upon their freedom
10 fortify any island attached politically
10 those dominions.
An authorized British spokesman said
to-day that Australia and New Zealand
want freedom OF action in regard TO
Notifications. desiring that no restraint
be placed In the way OF fortifying cer-
tain islands He also said that orig
nally IL was intended TO restrict the
applicability of the treaty to the region
north OF the Equator. where only the
United States and Japan had islands,
and not to include any British areas.
but the phrase region of the Pacific"
Rad been employed In the draft treaty
and this phrase seemed to take In the
British islands
II Is said TO have been pointed out
hy the American representatives that
certain South American countries have
irlands south OF the Equator overlook
ing the approach 10 the Panama Canal.
and that while no such eventuality is
looked for. II tho region OF the Pacific
south Of the Equator should be excluded
frpnr the agreement and one or more OF
those Islands Of the western coast OF
South America should fall into the
hands OF naval Power, such possession
would consti''ite menace 10 the canal
ard also 20 the United States
In unofficial Japanese circles Il was
remarked that the Notifications agree
rient might be meaningless so far as
some of the prime objects OF that Nm
dcrstanding are concerned N Great Brit
ain should be excused from it's pro-
visions.
While there has been no official war
rant for the statement that Japan re-
CARDS an understanding with Great
Britain In respect OF Pacific fortifica-
TOMS to be quite as important ~ an
understanding with tho United states
on that question. that Is understood to
be the Japanese view. especially since
it has been agreed that the Anglo
Japanese alliance shall terminate upon
Tho exchange OF raificatlons of the
four Power Pacific treaty
It was 'ntmated in japanese circles
that, while the cxcusing Of Great Brit
ain from the fortifcatlons agreement
might not absolutely ieopardize The
four Power Pacific treaty and the ca pl-
tai ship ARRANGEMENT, IL might have the
effect Of creating doubt IN Japan 1s
10 England's motives and also lessen
the popular approval Of the other ar
rangements.