without a specific understanding as to the relations of the powers to China. Such an understanding had two aspects. One related to securing fairer treatment of China, and the other related to the competition for trade and industrial advantages in China between the outside powers. An agreement covering both of these grounds in a rather fundamental way was embodied in the first article of the general Nine Power Treaty regarding China. In order, however, to bring the rules set out in that article out of the realm of mere abstract propositions and make them practical rules of conduct it was necessary to provide for applying them so far as the present conditions of government and social order in China permit. This was done by the remaining provisions of the general Nine Power Treaty and Chinese Customs Treaty and the series of formal resolutions adopted by the Conference in its Plenary Sessions and the formal declarations made a part of the record of the Conference. The scope of action by the Conference in dealing with Chinese affairs was much limited by the disturbed conditions of government in China which have existed since the revolution of 1911, and which still exist, and which render effective action by that government exceedingly difficult and in some directions impracticable. In every case the action of the Conference was taken with primary reference to giving the greatest help possible to the Chinese people in developing a stable and effective government really representative of the people of China. Much was accomplished in that direction, and the rules of conduct set forth in the first article of the General Treaty regarding China have not merely received the assent of the Powers but have been accepted and applied to concrete cases. The sum total of the action taken in the Conference regarding China, together with the return of Shantung by direct agreement between China and Japan, the withdrawal of the most unsatisfactory of the so-called "twenty-one demands," and the explicit declaration of Japan regarding the closely connected territory of Eastern Siberia, justify the relation of confidence and good will expressed in the Four Power Treaty and upon which the reduction of armament provided in the Naval Treaty may be contemplated with a sense of security. In conclusion, we may be permitted to quote the words of the President in closing the Conference: "This Conference has wrought a truly great achievement. It is hazardous sometimes to speak in superlatives, and I will be restrained. But I will say, with every confidence, that the faith plighted here to-day, kept in national honor, will mark the beginning of a new and better epoch in human progress. 66 Stripped to the simplest fact, what is the spectacle which has inspired a new hope for the world? Gathered about this table nine great nations of the world-not all, to be sure, but those most directly concerned with the problems at hand-have met and have conferred on questions of great import and common concern, on problems menacing their peaceful relationship, on burdens threatening a common peril. In the revealing light of the public opinion of the world, without surrender of sovereignty, without impaired nationality or affronted national pride, a solution has been found in unanimity, and to-day's adjournment is marked by rejoicing in the things accomplished. If the world has hungered for new assurance, it may feast at the banquet which the Conference has spread. "I am sure the people of the United States are supremely gratified, and yet there is scant appreciation [of] how marvelously you have wrought. When the days were dragging and agreements were delayed, when there were obstacles within and hindrances without, few stopped to realize that here was a conference of sovereign powers where only unanimous agreement could be made the rule. Majorities could not decide without impinging [on] national rights. There were no victors to command, no vanquished to yield. All had voluntarily to agree in translating the conscience of our civilization and give concrete expression to world opinion. "And you have agreed in spite of all difficulties, and the agreements are proclaimed to the world. No new standards of national honor have been sought, but the indictments of national dishonor have been drawn, and the world is ready to proclaim the odiousness of perfidy or infamy.58 "It has been the fortune of this Conference to sit in a day far enough removed from war's bitterness, yet near enough to war's horrors, to gain the benefit of both the hatred of war and the yearning for peace. Too often, heretofore, the decades following such gatherings have been marked by the difficult undoing of their decisions. But your achievement is supreme because no seed of conflict has been sown, no reaction in regret or resentment ever can justify resort to arms. "It little matters what we appraise as the outstanding accomplishments. Any one of them alone would have justified the Conference. But the whole achievement has so cleared the atmosphere that it will seem like breathing the refreshing air of a new morn of promise. "You have written the first deliberate and effective expression of great powers, in the consciousness of peace, of war's utter futility, and challenged the sanity of competitive preparation for each other's destruction. You have halted folly and lifted burdens, and revealed to the world that the one sure way to recover from the sorrow and ruin and staggering obligations of a world war is to end the strife in preparation for more of it, and turn human energies to the constructiveness of peace. "Not all the world is yet tranquillized. But here is the example, to imbue with new hope all who dwell in apprehension. At this table came understanding, and understanding brands armed conflict as abominable in the eyes of [an] enlightened civilization." 58 58 The omission which follows is indicated in the report of the delegation. "No intrigue, no offensive or defensive alliances, no involvements have wrought your agreements, but reasoning with each other to common understanding has made new relationships among Governments and peoples, new securities for peace, and new opportunities for achievement and attending happiness. "Here have been established the contacts of reason, here has [have] come the inevitable understandings of face-to-face exchanges when passion does not inflame. The very atmosphere shamed national selfishness into retreat. Viewpoints were exchanged, differences composed, and you came to understand how common, after all, are human aspirations; how alike, indeed, and how easily reconcilable are our national aspirations; how sane and simple and satisfying to seek the relationships of peace and security. "When you first met, I told you of our America's thought to seek less of armament and none of war; that we sought nothing which is another's, and we were unafraid, but that we wished to join you in doing that finer and nobler thing which no nation can do alone. We rejoice in that accomplishment. . . Respectfully submitted. 99 60 CHARLES E. HUGHES HENRY CABOT LODGE OSCAR W. UNDERWOOD WASHINGTON, February 9, 1922. Ratifications during 1922 of Treaties Signed at the Conference" 500.A4a/51a: Circular telegram The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain (Harvey) 62 WASHINGTON, March 31, 1922—6 p. m. Inform Government to which you are accredited that Senate has advised ratification of the treaty signed on December 13, 1921 between the United States, the British Empire, France and Japan, relating to their insular possessions and insular dominions in the Pacific Ocean, the treaty supplementary thereto, signed February 6, 1922, and the four treaties signed at the Washington Conference on February 6, 1922, namely the Treaty to Limit Naval Armament, the Treaty relating to Submarines and Noxious Gases, the Treaty relating to the Revision of the Chinese Customs Tariff and the Treaty of policy towards China, without amendment or reservation except with respect to the four power treaty and supplementary treaty, to which, 00 Omission indicated in the report of the delegation. 61 For texts of treaties, see pp. 33, 46, 247, 267, 276, 282. The same to the diplomatic representatives in France and Japan and, with the omission of the last sentence, to those in Belgium, China, Italy, Netherlands, and Portugal. in addition to the declaration signed by the plenipotentiaries of the four powers on December 13, 1921, the advice and consent of the Senate is given with the reservation and understanding that "The United States understands that under the statement in the preamble or under the terms of this treaty there is no commitment to armed force, no alliance, no obligation to join in any defense." Instructions concerning formal notice follow by mail. HUGHES 500.A4a/50b The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain No. 454 (Harvey) 63 WASHINGTON, April 4, 1922. SIR: Referring to my telegram of March 31, you are informed that the Senate has advised ratification of the Treaty signed on December 13, 1921, between the United States, the British Empire, France and Japan, relating to their insular possessions and insular dominions in the Pacific Ocean, the treaty supplementary thereto, signed February 6, 1922, and the four treaties signed at the Washington Conference on February 6, 1922, namely the Treaty to Limit Naval Armament, the Treaty relating to Submarines and Noxious Gases, the Treaty relating to the Revision of the Chinese Customs Tariff and the Treaty of policy towards China, without amendment or reservation except with respect to the Four-Power Treaty and supplementary treaty, to wit below: 1. The Senate made the following reservation and understanding a part and condition of the resolution of ratification of the FourPower Treaty: "The United States understands that under the statement in the preamble or under the terms of this Treaty there is no commitment to armed force, no alliance, no obligation to join in any defense." 2. In giving its advice and consent to the ratification of the treaty supplementary to the Four-Power Treaty, the Senate made the following reservation and understanding a part and condition of its resolution: "That the Four-Power Treaty relating to Pacific Possessions shall apply to the Mandated Islands in the Pacific Ocean; provided, however, that the making of the Treaty shall not be deemed to be an assent on the part of the United States of America to the mandates and shall not preclude agreements between the United States of America and the Mandatory Powers respectively in relation to the mandated islands. The same, mutatis mutandis, to France, as no. 241, and Japan, as no. 58 (file nos. 500.A4a/50a, 50c). "That the controversies to which the second paragraph of Article 1 of the Four-Power Treaty relating to Pacific Possessions refers shall not be taken to embrace questions which according to principles of international law lie exclusively within the domestic jurisdiction of the respective Powers." It will be observed by the British Government that this reservation and understanding merely embody the Declaration of intent and understanding signed by the representatives of the four Powers at the time of the signature by them on December 13, 1921, of the FourPower Treaty. In your note you will please add the statement that the Government of the United States is ready to ratify and to deposit its ratifications of the two treaties mentioned, subject to the above reservations and understandings, and that upon learning of the readiness of the three other signatory Governments to deposit their ratifications, the Government of the United States will be pleased to fix a date for the deposit of the instruments with it, as stipulated in the treaties. I am [etc.] CHARLES E. HUGHES 500.A4d/16 The Chinese Minister (Sze) to the Secretary of State WASHINGTON, May 5, 1922. SIR: I have the honor to inform you that my Government ratified on the 29th ultimo, the Treaty between the Nine Powers, signed on February 6, 1922, relating to the Principles and Policies to be followed in matters concerning China, and the Treaty, signed on February 6, 1922, between the same Nine Powers relating to the Chinese Customs Tariff; and on the same day ratified also the Treaty, signed on February 4, 1922, between China and Japan for the Settlement of Outstanding Questions relative to Shantung.64 Accept [etc.] 500.A4a/81: Telegram SAO-KE ALFRED SZE The Ambassador in Japan (Warren) to the Secretary of State [Paraphrase] TOKYO, July 27, 1922—5 p. m. 125. The Minister of Foreign Affairs told me at Foreign Office today that he intended to ask Cabinet tomorrow to authorize him to request Prince Regent to ratify Washington treaties. He said that the treaties had been approved by Privy Council and United States Senate and he would be asked when President is to ratify. He would like to |