Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-07-10
A Move for Pacific Peace.

The Anglo-Japanese alliance. rightly
or wrongly considered menace to the
United States in many quarters in this
country, is about to pass quietly and
peacefully into the realm of history.
Dispatches from Paris announce the
ratification of the four-power Pacific
treaty, negotiated at the Washington
conference, by unanimous vote of the
French chamber of deputies. The sane
tion of the French senate alone re-
mains to be obtained to complete the
ratification of this treaty. With its
agreement terminates.
The Senate of the United States rati.
fed the four-power Pacific treaty long
ago. So did the governments of Great
Britain and Japan. And now France is
about to put its sign of approval on
the pact. The French senate is expect,
ed to act before the summer recess is
taken.
The ratification of the four-power
treaty, relating to the island posses
sions and dominions Of the four con-
tracing powers in the Pacific ocean.
Is a feather in the cap of the admins
tration. When the delegates to the
conference on limitation of ornaments
and problems of the Pacific assembled
in Washington, the Anglo-Japanese
alliance lay in the path of agreement
on limitation of naval armament.
How could the representatives of the
United States commit themselves to
limit the naval forces of this country
while two of the other contracting
powers, the other two great naval
powers of the world, remained bound
in a defensive alliance?
The elimination of the Anglo-Japa-
nese pact was recognized as a sine qua
non. 1t was admitted that it had out
lived it's usefulness. 1t had originally
heen designed as measure of pretec-
ton in view of the policies of Russia
and Germany in far eastern affairs
All peril from these sources had been
removed. But the pact was regarded
as prejudicial to American interests.
The British found themselves in an
awkward position-as Lord Balfour
ties of two misunderstanding a mis-
understanding if they retained the
treaty, misunderstanding if they de-
nounced the treaty The Anglo-Japa-
nese alliance, originally entered into
July IS, 1911, ran until it was formal
1,r hr, Of
ties
The four-p power Pacific treaty was a
happy solution of the difficulty In
this pact, soon to become effective,
the high contracting parties, the
United States. Great Britain, France
and Japan, agree to respect the rights
of each in relation to their insular pos
sessions and insular dominions in the
region of the Pacific. If any contro-
versy should arise between any two
of them, or more, regarding these
rights, which is not settled by diplo-
matte means, under the treaty they
shall invite the other contracting par
ties to joint conference for considera-
ton and adjudication. The same
course shall be followed in the event
Of threatened or aggressive action by
any other power in regard to the
rights of the contracting parties.
Further, the new treaty provides
that it shall run for a period of ten
years, and after the expiration of that
period it shall continue in force sub
ject to the right of any of the con-
tracing parties to terminate it upon
q twelve-month notice. Upon the ex-
change of notifications in Washington
the Anglo-Japanese alliance ter
inmates. -r'.-
:. The. inclusion of France, traditional
friend of the United States, among the
contracting parties was considered
distinct advantage. The four-power
treaty does not commit the United
states to the use of force, but merely
to consultation in the event of con-
troversies arising affecting the pos
sessions in the Pacific. A statement
signed at the time by the representa-
tives Of the four powers exempts from
the operation of, the treaty purely
domestic questions, such as immigra.
ton. Later still supplementary
treaty was negotiated which exempted
the main islands of Japan from the
operation of the treaty also.
The, negotiation Of this treaty has
been followed by cessation of rumors
OF war in the Pacific; a better era of
understanding in the Pacific. 1t is rea.
sonable to expect that this pact, to-
gether with the naval limitation treaty
and the treaties. relating to China,
also negotiated at the Washington con.
ference, will insure peace In the Pa.
cific for many years to come.
N hardly, l,ar~ e. ,xax 1. 49,.