Pueblo chieftain., 1922-03-12
DEMOCRATS ARE UNDECIDED ON
THEIR STAND ON PACIFIC TREATY

negotiations for any treaty whatever,
situations arise as to which public dis
cIssion would be universally recog-
nized as unfortunate. This was as
true of the negotiations leading up to
the four power treaty as it is of the
preparation of every other treaty. But
it is also true that the great bulk of
the negotiations leading up to the
present Horsepower treaty might Just
as well have been carried on in public
as in private.
Also. and most important. in criti
cising the Washington Conference for
having practiced secrecy in connection
with this\particular part of its work
truth and fairness demand 1t should
be said that as to the other parts of
the work of the Washington Confer
ence. and as to the Conference as a
whole, more-infinitely more-of the ne
gotiations were carried on in public
than at any other similar conference
ever held. 1t is decidedly unfair to
lay too much emphasis on the fact
that this portion OF the work of the
Washington Conference was carried
on in secret.
v.
Ono objection made to the FOUR
power treaty is that its main purpose
is to afford substitute for the Anglo
Japanese alliance, and that in assent
ms to the four-power treaty America
is paying larger price than ought to
have been demanded by Great Britain
and Japan as a quid pro quo for the
abrogation OF the Anglo-Japaness al
lance. 1t Is said that Great Britain
| and Japan ought to have been willing
| to abrogate that alliance without ask
| ing US to help them provide a substf-
! tute for it. 1t Is said that they ought
| to have done it as an act OF good will
toward the United States.
| 1t is fact that the Anglo-Japanese
alliance was originally made a defense
| against the aEgressdons OF Germany
and Russia in the Far East. 1t Is also
| obviously fact that Russia and Ger
many are no longer in a position to
be aggressive in the Far East, and
| there therefore this original reason for
tho creation of the Anglo-Japanese al
lance has disappeared. Since the or
iginal reason has disappeared. 1t is
argued by those who reason this way,
thrown overheard without asking any,
thing as substitute for 1t.
Against this there is a sound arEu-
ment based on international courtesy.
Japan was very proud OF her alliance
with Great Britain. The japanese
government would have been much
embarrassed to explain to their people
greatest nations of the western world
had been terminated. Great Britain
could not say to Japan, We are thru
with you now" Great Britain was in
a very embarrassing position. She
knew that the United States did not
like II. and that some of her own do
minions. including Canada. New Zca-
land and Australia did not like 1t. The
spokemen OF these dominions had told
Great Britain that they did not like II.
On one occasion, when the spokesman
OF Canada was telling Lloyd George
that the AnKlo-Japanesc alliance
ought to be obrogated. II for no better
reason than merely the fact that Is
was Objectionable to the United States.
You talk as II you were citizen of
the United States rather than OF the
British Empire" Great Britain could
dismiss Japan merely because she
wanted to win favor with the United
States. As Mr.. Balfour expressed II
in his public speech In the session of
the Washington Conference which
perfectly well aware that the treaty
between Great Britain and Japan has
been the cause of-some suspicions.
and Of a good deal of animadversion in
Important sections OF opinion in the
United Statcs-I understood that point
of view. but there is another point Of
view which I want you to understand
and with which even those who dis
agree with It will sympathize.
This trcaty. remember. was not a
treaty that had to be renewed. 1t was
n treaty that ran until It was formally
rcnounced by one OF tho two parties
to it.-That treaty had been in exist
cncc within a few days OF twenty
years. ]. had served a great purpose
IN two great wars. 1t had stood the
strain of common sacrifices, common
anSictIc-. common efforts. common
,riumphs. When two nations have
been united in that fiery ordeal they
cannot at tho end OF II take off their
hats one to the other and politely part
as two strangers part who travel to-
gethcr for few hours in a railway
train. Gratuitously. and without
cause TO tear up tho written contract.
Might lead TO Observation-Disclosures In
one nation just as much as the main
tenance Of that treaty has led to mis-
understandings IN another. Great