Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-02-01
5-POWER PACT
RATIFIED IN
OPEN SESSION
Treaty to Restrict
Naval Strength Is
Reality.
HOLDS Is YEARS
Pact Provides for
Withdrawal by
Notice.


INGTON, Feb. AFTER almost three
months Of continuous negotiating,
the five great naval powers of the
world met in open conference here
today and formally presented to the
world the terms of a treaty, which
definitely prescribed the limits and
charts and the courses Of their
navies for the next fifteen years.
Within an hour after the armament
conference met in its fifth open session
there also was written into the conference
records a succession of Chinese achieve
ments. all aimed toward restoring the
great republic of the Orient part Of what
which nations in the past have taken
rom her.
They were as follows:
a Announcement was made of the
complete settlement Of the Shantung
controversy, under which China re-
gains well-nigh complete control Of
the province.
~ Great Britain announced that
she would return Wei-Hei-Wei to
China, in keeping with the general
spirit OF returning to China what be-
longs to her.
80 Various resolutions previously
adopted in committee, destined to re-
store China's autonomy, were off,
ciauy adopted by the entire con-
ference.
The final text Of the documents held
few surprises-it lasts for fifteen years
it provides for the United States calling
another session at the end Of eight years
to consider possible changes because Of
scientific and technical developments in
that time, IL follows the 1851. 75-175
ratio Of the five powers; 1t names the
capital ships each power may retain, it
provides methods and times OF replace
ments, It writes the frs accepted world
dictionary of naval terms, it affords an
avenue of escape should any Of the pow
ers become erabroiled in war, and lastly,
its provisions make certain the scrap
ping OF hundreds Of thousands of exist
ing fight craft.
PACT CONTAINS
TRIPLE AGREEMENT.
In addition to the purely naval aspect,
the lengthy document, there is a three
cornered agreement in it between the
United States, Great Britain and Japan,
which provides for the maintenance Of the
status quo as regards fOrtifications in the
Pacific possessions Of the three powers
within prescribed areas
The treaty is so written that any one
Of the contracting powers may at any
time, when it considers It's nominal Sc
curity is menaced, call a new conference
to reconsider the portions Of the treaty
which it considers inimicaI To its safety
and general we'll being.
Fifteen years is the life Of the treaty,
from the date Of its ratification by the
constitutional agencies Of the powers Gn
the case Of the United States it is the
Senate), and at the end Of this period
the treaty automatically shall continue
in force until one Of the powers gives
two years notice OF q desire to ter
inmate it.
In case Of war. any of the signatory
powers can escape the obligations of the
treaty by giving due notice to the other
powers, and at the end of hostilities the
powers shall meet again TO consider what
shall be done about renewing its force.
The same brilliant assemblage OF in
ternational government and social leaders
was on hand when the fast-dying arma-
ment conference met in its fifth plenary
session.
The galleries above the green covered
U-shaped table were packed with women
when the conference got under way
Scattered here and there through the Sc
Congress who came to view the closing
chapter of the parley, but in the main it
was women that composed the colorful
assembly.
Secretary Hughes, at the outset Of the
meeting, made a report on the work Of
the conference to date with respect to the
various resolutions adopted affecting
China.
He read first the resolution pledging
the removal of foreign postoffices, adopted
Dec. L. There was no objection and it
was re-adopred.
TROOPS MUST
LEAVE CHINA.
Next he read the resolution respecting
the proposed removal Of foreign troops
from China, after Investigation, adopted
Jan. 5. 1t likewise was re-adopted
The resolution permitting China TO
raise higher tariff duties, adopted Jan.
8, was not presented it being announced
that special treaty is being formulated
to cover this.
Then the Root "open door" resolution,
providing for an international board Of
reference in China to decide disputed
questions was read and approved, as was
an accompanying resolution pledging no
discrimination on Chinese railways.
Then followed in rapid succession, the
reading and formal adoption of all the
Continued on Page Five.)