Evening star., 1934-12-06
TREATY WARNING
VOICED BY DAVIS
U. S. Position, Seconded by
State Department, Says
Security Is Menaced.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.


grave warning was sounded today
by Ambassador Norman H. Davis
when, discussing in London the con-
sequences of abandoning the WASH
ington treaty, he stated:
I'VE believe that only by main
tenance of the system of equality OF
security can there be main
tained the substantial foundation for
security and peace which has thus far
been laid. We believe that the course
taken in 1922 was in the right direc-
ton; that the system thus established
has been of advantage to all con-
cerned; and that abandonment now
OF the principles involved would lead
to condition of insecurity. of inter-
national suspicion and of costly COM
petition with no real advantage to any
nation"
This was the answer given by the
American Government to the state
ment made by Japan'S foreign min
lister, Hiroto. who announced that the
Washington naval treaty will be de-
nounced on December 20.
Speech Endorsed Here.
Davis speech was carefully gone
over in Washington and was fully
Endorsed by the State Department.
1t expresses the fundamental princi-
Piles Of this Governments foreign
policy Of international cooperation,
which is that the existing naval
treaties form a system on which in
ternational security is based, and If
these are destroyed all hope for
solving international problems COL
lectively is gone.
The American Ambassador made
1t clear that the United States
scrapped large portion Of its fleet
in order to bring about the conclusion
OF the Washington agreement Of 1921,
because it believed, like the other
slgnatories of that treaty, in equal
ity in security" All the important
maritime nations accepted that primo
iple on their own free will u years
ago.
Ratios Meet Needs.
The point of view of the American
Government throughout all the con-
ferences since 1922 is that the ratios
established between the various mari
time powers correspond to the need
OF security of these powers.
Davis emphasized the fact that
these agreements embodied in the
nlne-power pact and in the four
power pact, the latter dealing with
Chlnas territorial integrity, were in
TENDED to do away with any friction
IN the economic and political field.
tnus guaranteeing friendly cooper
atlon between the nations interested
in the Pacific.
The American Government recoc.
nizes fully the right of everv nation
to equality of security. we do not
question, In fact we affirm the in
herent right of any and every power
70 equality of security" stated Mr.
Davis, and added that 1.-The Wash
lngton treaty system was equality of
security under conditions of co-opera-
ton"
ANY basic alteration in this sys-
tenn must Of necessity alter the secur-
lty thus established" he said. This
sentence, despite its careful wording.
Is taken to indicate to the govern
ments concerned that should any ma
ton whose interests might be con-
flicting with those of America, upset
the existing balance of security. this
country will have to meet such a new
situation by re-establishing that bal
ance by additional constructions either
IN the Navy or those fortified areas
which under the Washington agree
ment were not TO be fortified any more.