The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-01-01

agreement upon such details as the
Mutsu and the contending ratios. IL
anyone cares TO look back over the
newspaper reports OF the first weeks
Of the conference he will find little
or nothing to suggest that the con-
ference was actually absorbed In
the preparation of a three or four
power treaty.
But, as time passed, agreement
upon the form OF the treaty began
to seem assured. Then, quietly at
first, but daily with more definite
ness the British correspondents
began to speak OF a new treaty
which was about to emerge. Lord
Riddell I'm his daily talks with the
British correspondents. which were
largely attended by American cor
respondents, gave more and more
precise indications OF this treaty.
The American newspapers began to
hint at IL. Nothing was precise,
nothing clear, but no one could mis-
understand that something was
coming.
Now in all this time what was
the attitude OF the American dele
CATION? Mr.. Hughes had assumed
the duty of acting as sole exposi-
tor OF the American side of the
conference 10 the press. Daily he
was asked about this alliance.
daily he replied that he could say
nothing and left it to ne inferred
that, as n delegate in the confer
encc he could not discuss secret
matters. You had, then for u
whole week an atmosphere of
secrecy, OF mystery and of confu-
sion, completely recalling the
| ,h MI DO a. all
| Mr.. Wilson was comforting with
Clemenccau and Lloyd George.
Mr.. Hughes was doing exactly the
same thing with MIR. Balfour and
Baron Kate.
As this thing continued, criticism
began to be heard for the first time
and thia criticism provoked, first re.
| sentiment and then apprehension
| but 1t did not lead TO explanation
| Then, suddenly, at night without
any warning q decision was taken tC
| hold plenary session the next day
| Agreement had at last been had
upon the terms Of this mysterious
document, consent had come from
Toxic, Paris and London and state
department officials worked al
1 night distributing tickets OF admis
sion to this new session.
read the four-power treaty. II,
could not explain that this repre-.
scented the attainment OF the first
objective, to get rid % the Anglo,
japanese alliance; lie could not say
anything about the realities because
he was a member Of the conference
And the American delegation haG
neglected to provide any such ma
chinery as the British had in LORD
Riddell, no means Of explaining un'
officially, but yet exactly what anc
why in the matter of American pol
Icy and action.
The Early Bird"
So Senator Lodge talked OF 'lilN
islands" and of peace; and the coun
try, a little puzzled, after the league
of nations experience, accepted thu
four-power treaty as a decorative
contribution to the cause OF Pacifit
peace and settled back TO wait To-
the naval ratio discussion to end
still believing that the naval matte
was Of first Importance. But un
fortunately Senator Lodge omitted
to mention the extent Of the -four
power treaty; he did not Cxplaii
that it applied to the mainland o
Japan. No such omission marked
the accounts of the British Journal
lists. For example j. g. Hami'tol
of the London Chronicle walked
from the conference hall to the tele
graph office and cabled his news
paper that tho treaty applied to tn
mainland Of Japan.
In the next few days this oXplana'
tion was made TO all the British cor
respondents through their own rep
resentatiyCs, but IL was mIdWeeI
before these explanations began {,
find crodenCe among the American
correspondents. who had exactly
nothing on the subject from theil
Ghyn source Of information. AT ,
midweek session in response to al
lohscure question Mr.. Hughes casu
ally admitted that the islands o.
japan were included. Only on'
Journalist Of the 7O-odd presen
caught the drift. lie published i
with the suggestion that this stcl
resembled the step taken by Mr.
wilson 10 giving guarantee e
France.
} America Kept In Dark
The next day Mr.. Hughes made
brief reference TO the published
, parallel between the three-powe
treaty OF guarantee and the four
power treaty; he repulsed the ide
, ihat there was any parallel bu
again conceded that the mainland
e OF Japan was included, because tn
a treaty said island dominions an,
, japan was an isldud--many island
= in fact. SO the mtter rested for an
d other day and then at last MI
Y Hughes permitted himself to b.
c cross~uXa mined and made answers $
[ clear and specific as 10 set at res
: all doubt and for the first time IN