Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-23
TR|PARTITE PACT
IS MAIN U. S. HOPE
French Attitude Makes Deal
With Britain and Japan
Appear as Outcome.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE,
stan Correspondent OF The Star.

BY Radio to The Star.
LONDON, February 22.-Fears are
definitely crystallizing within the
American delegation that tllree-power
treaty among the United States, Great
Britain and Japan may be the only
thing attainabl. at the London Naval
Conference. 1t can at least be stated
authoritatively that such a contingency
is seriously contemplated. The attitude
OF France Is responsible for this pros
pect. Even though the new Cheute:sps
CABINET should send a delegation mere
next week with orders to revise Tar
deus tonnage figures downward-and
this is by no means certain-France
would submit to a cut only in return
Tor either general security guarantee
or Mediterranean pact.
Inc American delegations informa-
tlon from the Senate, where It Is under
STOOD that Senator Borah is Sharpening
his battle ak, has led it to believe that
1t would be "love's labor lost" to enter
INTO any kind Of protective arrange
ment In Frances favor. It is not only
doubtful whether the entire delegation
would sign such paper, but far more
doubtful, according to a confidential
count of senatorial noses sent to Lon
don. whether even the most innocuous
consultative pact would command a
Tatltylng majority. The delegation
nears also that Republican and
Democratic phalanx well over 80 strong
Is already modified against any scheme
devised, directly or indirectly, to EN-
tangle the United States in European
quarrelS, no matter if the scheme
merely pledged Uncle Sam to take part
in talks"
Want Munitions and Men.
Perhaps OF far more Importance than
the Senate's Susceptibilities is the very
strong probability that France would
not be satisfied with only the CONVEX
sat1onal participation of America when
war clouds gather. The French do not
want platonlc good Offices should such
emergency arise. They want what we
gave them in 1917, namely, men, nuni-
LIONS ana money. 1t is because Secre-
tary Stimson and his colleagues know
the situation existing both at home and
IN france that they feel compelled 10
turn their attention to a three-power
Ileaty. Inere IS a suggestion Of high
conference policies in these plans.
From the outset the French have in
sisted that the United States and Great
britain are running the conference
mainly, II not wholly, in their own in
terests. Talk of Anglo American naval
supremacy is continuous in the Paris
press 1t may be that if France finds
Great Britain and America actually
reaay 70 enter into naval agreement
WIN Japan as partner Paris may
lnlnk twice, even thrice, before taking
the stand which would make a three.
power treaty necessary The French
IN other words, it is felt, would weigh
carefully the advantages and disadvan-
tages OF such self-imposed isolation.
Inc american delegation is frankly
1nf A.
JUSTIFIED alarm and anxieties of France.
WIN our own profound belief in the
kellogg pact, Secretary Stimson and
MS associates are inclined to ask. in
accents bordering on impatience' IL
france doesn't think she already is
wrapped in enough cotton wool with
the League covenant and the Iocarno
treaty to bulwark her in addition Tn
tnls connection, Ambassador Edges
significant.
Race for Betterment.
We have entered on a new era"
SsIu Eoge. The ratification of the
Kellogg BRAND treaty is conchlsiye evi.
oence that different race is being en-
gagged in between the peoples OF the
world; not race for ornaments. which
once characterized the policy of the
great powers, but competition between
natlons more secure in new guaranty
OF peace and equity for the betterment
Coming at the present tense moment
Eoges words are interpreted in Lon
oon as timely reminder to the French
70 curo their fears and cut their tom
mage ngureS accordingly. Unless they
40, as matters now stand. a three-power
treaty is just over the horizon. It
needs TO be remembered that Britain is
e. Ill,
armed security as America is.
Irlparttte agreement undergoing ten
Eatlve consideration would grant the
BRUSH the right to exceed the tonnage
TOTALS agreed upon whenever they felt
it necessary because of building opera
lions OF the other powers to expand
Inelr own program. America and Japan
would naturally retain the same privi-
lege. 1t would then be for Congress TO
say, In case the British exercised that
right, whether the United States should
proceed to build up to higher level of
parity or not. Our right to do so would
De absolute. American public opinion
would nave to decide whether Britain's
construction was matter which con-
cerned purely European conditions. or
Wnether 1t required us to match 1t.
the London Times implores France
10 put on one side extraneouS questions
OF prestige and anxious endeavors to
proVloe against every possible danger
that may lurk in the distant future.
She should consider whether the inter-
national outlook for the next I'VE years
doesn't justify the compromises in arm
ament programs at this time, especial
~ as they can be reviewed at the next
conference, in 1896.
Gratified Over Election.
Americas delegation is gratified over
the early returns from the Japanese
elections. They indicate victory for the
government party. Once reinstated In
power our delegates feel sure the MIN
Seito leaders in Toxic will find them
selves in position to come to terms
on the Ito cruiser proposition, along
the lines Of the American compromise
oner. The Japanese are jealous Of their
high international prestige and aren't
expected to jeopardiZe 1t by eStrang-
ing with Great Britain and America In
London
The three-power treaty, which would
eventuate from conditions brought
about by France, would provide: First,
for a f1ve-year holiday in battleship re-
placements; second, 10-10-7 ratio in
big cruisers as among America, Britain
and Japan, with higher percentages for
the Japanese in lighter craft; third,
maintenance of naval base and forth
fication status quo in the Far East, in
Guiding completion of plans for the
extension to Singapore and Manila;
fourth, the right Of each navy to ex-
ceed the limitation hgures in case 1t
felt compelled to do so.
The three-power treaty would not on
its face deal with ratios. 1t would only
fix the total category in tonnages AS
1t Is now calculated, America, Great
Britain and Japan would be allotted,