The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1922-07-20
WASHINGTON PACTS
RATIFIED SHORTLY
JAPAN's ACTION WILL SOON BE
FOLLOWED BY APPROVAL eY
EUROPEAN POWERS.
STATE DEPARTMENT PLEASED
Threat Of War With island Empire
Has vsnished-Further Steps for
World Peace Are Contemplated by
the Administration,
BY JAMES p. HoRNApAY


Washlngton.--The State department
has assurances that the Washington
conference treaties are shortly to be
ratified by all the nations that par
ticipated In the conference. These as
surances heal some nervousness that
existed here.
Charles Evans Hughes, secretary of
state, who carried out President Hard.
ing's plans for the Washington confer
ence. never doubted that japan would
ratify the treaties. but II Is q fact
that soon after the japanese delega-
ion returned home disquieting reports
from Toxic reached the State depart
ment. These reports dwelt on the In
huence Of the military party ih japan
and reflected doubt as to whether the
two steps necessary to japanese rati-
hcation-tbe approval of the privy
council and the signature of the prince
regent-would ever be taken. The
change In the situation came when
Admiral Baron KatO became prime
minister and declared for the imme-
diate ratification OF the treaties.
According to the State department.
too much Significance cannot be at
tached to the approval of the treaties
by Japan. II was the trying situa-
tion In the Far East that brought about
the Washington conference One year
ago the world was looking at the Unit.
ed States and Japan and saying that
war between these two countries with
In the next few years was Inevitable.
II Is not going beyond the bounds Of
truth to say that influential men in
public life in the United States felt
that unless the so-called japanese
United States situation could be ironed
out, IL would be extremely difficult for
the two nations to go ahead on Q
peace basis.
"Minor League Of Nations"
One year ago this month President
Harding and Secretary Hughes set In
motion the machinery that brought in
to life the Washington conference
with Its worldwide results. 1t should
not be forgotten that japan In rati'
flying the treaties cancels the treaty
between Great Britain and Japan,
known as the Anglo-Japanese alliance
In place of that treaty there appears
the treaty between the United
States. Great Britain, France and
Japan. which is known as the four
power treaty under which the security
of the insular possessions Of each Of
these nations In the Pacific Is guar.
anteed. Thus In place Of an alliance
between Great Britain and Japan, an
alliance which In the estimation Of the
United States was a distinct menace
to this government, there appears
what some persons have preferred to
call a minor league Of nations.
Looking back on the work of the
Washington conference the statesmen
throughout the world undoubtedly re-
allze that the great accomplishment
was the establishment Of cordial re-
Iations between the United States and
Japan. Even the California land con-
troversy, which some people would
like to keep alive. has apparently been
buried for tie time being at least.
The treaties will not become opera
tive until the European nations that
are parties to them ratify. but the
State department has received salts
factory assurances that ratification In
Europe will not long be delayed. Great
Britain has already approved In part
and will finish the work In the next
few weeks. according to advices re-
ceIved at the State department. France
Is also ready to go ahead with rati-
fication and the understanding now is
that reservations will probably not be
applied by the French to any of the
treaties. The small European nations
have been waiting on the great pow
ers.
Other Peace Steps Coming.
Time will reveal that the Washing
ton conference was only one of sew
eral important steps which the United
States will take I'm the International
field-steps all designed 10 promote
permanent peace throughout the
world. A member Of the Harding cab
met remarked the other day that 10
would be a fine thing II the admin.
istration should record one interna-
tional step year-One step each year
I'm the direction Of international peace.
That such an outcome Is In the mind
OF the President Is pretty well under
stood.
Persons who are In close touch with
the administration understand that
when the Washington conference ad-
iourned Il was the thought not only of
the President aud Secretary Hughes.
hut OF all the delegates from the other
nations that were represented at the
conference, that as soon as the Wash.
Ington treaties were ratified. the
Wa shington conference would be dupli.
Gated In Europe. France fews the
track and as a result the plan for
that would attempt to do
FOR Europe what the Washington con-
ference did for the Far East has not
been carried out. bu persons who seek
from officials who pos