The Washington herald., 1922-01-01

{
absorbed in the preparation of .
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 be-
gan to speak of a new treaty which
was about to emerge. Lord Riddell,
in his daily talks with the British
correspondents. which were largely
attended by American correspon-
dents. gave more and more precise
indications of this treaty. The
American newspapers began to hint
at 1t. Nothing was precise nothing
clear: but no one could misunder-
stand that something was coming.
Now in all this time what was
the attitude of the American dele
cation? Mr.. Hughes has assumed
the duty of acting as sole EXPOSE
tor of the American side of the con-
ference to the press. Daily he was
asked about this alliance, daily he
replied that he could say nothing
and left IL to be inferred that as a
delegate in the conference, he
COULD not discuss secret matters.
You had, then, for a whole week
an atmosphere OF secrecy. Of mys-
terry and of confusion; completely
recalling the days-and nights-at
Paris, when Mr.. Wilson was confer
ring with Cleme nceau and Lloyd
George. Mr.. Hughes was doing ex-
actly the same thing with Mr.. Bal
four and Baron Kato.
AS this thing continued criticism
began TO be heard for the first ting
and this criticism provoked, first
resentment and then apprehension.
but 1t did not lead to explanation.
Then. suddenly, at night. without
any warning a decision was taken
to hold a plenary session the next
az, Agreement had at last been
had upon the terms of this myster-
lous document, consent had come
from Toxic, Paris and London and
State Department officials worked
all night distributing tickets of adj
mission to this new session.
Lodge Bound by Position.
At this new session Senator
Lodge read the four power treaty.
He could not explain that this rep
resented the attainment Of the first
objective, to get rid of the Anglo
Japanese alliance, he could not say
cause he was a member of the con-
ference. And the American delega-
ton had neglected to provide any
such machinery as the British had
in Lord Riddell, no means of ex-
.'a'0in. Tnofficially but yet exactly
what and why in the matter of
American policy and action.
so senator Lodge talked of lilly
ISLANDS" and Of peace and the coun-
try, a little puzzled, after the
league OF nations experience, ac-
cepted the four power treaty as
decorative contribution to the cause
OF Pacific peace and settled back to
wait for the naval ratio discussion
10 end, still believing that the naval
matter was of first Importance. But
unfortunately Senator Lodge omit
teS to mention the extent of the
-FOUR power treaty. he did not ex-
plain that it applied to the main
anu or Japan. No such omission
marked the accounts of the British
Journalists. For examnIe ~
Hamilton Of the London Chronicle
walked from the conference hall ~
the telegraph office and cabled his
newspaper that the treaty applied
TO the mainland of Japan
IN the next few days thi, OK
PLANTATION was made to all the Brit.
ism correspondents through their
own representatives, but IL was mid
week oefore these explanations be-
gan TO md credence among the
American correspondents, who had
exactly nothing on the subject from,
their own source OF information. A.
a mid-week session in response ~
an obscure question Mr.. Hughes
casually admitted that the islands
OF japan were included ONLY one
journalist of the seventy-odd pres
ent caught the drift. He published
II with the suggestion that this step
resemoled the step taken by Mr..
Wilson In giving a guarantee to
France.
Comedies Mainland's Inclusion.
The next day Mr.. Hughes made a
brief reference to the published
parallel between the three-power
treaty of guarantee and the four
power treaty, he repulsed the idea
that there was any parallel, but
again conceded that the mainland
of Japan was included. because, the
treaty said, island dominions," and
Japan was an island. many islands,
in fact. So the matter rested for
another day, and then at last Mr..
Hughes permitted himself TO be
cross-examined, and made answers
so clear and specific as to set at
rest all doubt, and for the FIRST time
the mass Of the American CORE.
spondents were able to give author
itative information to their reader.
of a fact which had been published
in London nearly week before, and
had been a matter Of common
knowledge in British Journalistic
quarters for many days.
Meantime the situation was be-
coming complicated. Many newspa-
pers with an obvious desire to de-
fend the treaty and clear recollec-
ton OF the Senate Tight over the
league of nations. announced wuite
boldly that the treaty ala not apply