A QUESTIONED PHRASE

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 150, 22 December 1921, Page 7

A QUESTIONED PHRASE

IS JAPAN A "POSSESSION" ?

MILD SENSATION AROUSED.

WASHINGTON, 20th' December

White House and the State Department seem to be at variance over the interpretation of' the Four-Power Pact. Presidential circles. to-day let it be known that they did not consider the Treaty applied to the Island of Japan proper arhy more than the American mainland. American and British Relegates have at one time or another declared emphatically that ' the provisions of the Treaty are applicable to the Japanese home islands as well as the outlying possessions. Tho Japanese have said that they regard the Treaty in the same way. But a Presidential announcement classes the islands of Japan proper as those of the party to the pact, and so distinct from the island possessions. Interesting developments may be expected, adding fuel to the - local controversy and increasing the Senatorial attention tto the treaty.

THe White Honse interpretation- o* the Four-Power Treaty created a. mild sensation in newspaper circles. The State Department declined to comment on the subject.

Baron Kato was bombarded with questions from all angles, but resolutely refused to be drawn, declaring that as a delegate he was bound in honour not to discußS a matter which was now in the hands of the Japanese Government. He hoped to make a full statement before leaving as to their view on the application of the Treaty. He neither confirmed nor denied one leading question to the effect that Japan only consented t6 the homeland being included at the persuasion of Mr. Balfour.