The Washington Conference on Saturday last accepted a quadruple agreement
for the Pacific which opens a new era in the history of the world. Great Britain, America, France and Japan agree " as between themselves to respect their rights in relation to their insular possessions and insular dominions in the regions of the Pacific Ocean." Controversies arising out of any Pacific question are to be adjusted at a joint conference :-
" If the said rights are threatened by the aggressive action of any other Power, the High Contracting Parties shall communi- cate with one another frankly in order to arrive at an under- standing as to the most efficient measures to be taken jointly or separately to meet the exigencies of the particular situation."
The agreement is to last for ten years, and to continue in force after that, subject to the right of any party to terminate it at a year's notice. When it is ratified by all parties, the British- Japanese Treaty of 1911 is to terminate.
Previous page
