500.A4a/162
Memorandum by Mr. Balfour, of the British Delegation6
I am disposed to think that our Far Eastern Arrangements should be embodied in two Treaties arrangements rather than in [Page 3] one. The first of these would deal with the preservation of peace and the maintenance of the territorial status quo: it would be tripartite and would replace the existing Anglo-Japanese Alliance. The second would deal with China.7
The following is a sketch of a possible Tripartite Arrangement:—
With the object of maintaining the general peace in the regions of Eastern Asia and of protecting the existing territorial rights of the High Contracting Parties in the islands of the Pacific Ocean and the territories bordering thereon:—
It is agreed—
I
That each of the High Contracting Parties shall respect such rights themselves and shall consult fully and frankly with each other as to the best means of protecting them whenever in the opinion of any of them they are imperilled by the action of another Power.
II
If in the future the territorial rights (referred to in Article I) of any of the High Contracting Parties are threatened by any other Power or combination of Powers, any two of the High Contracting Parties shall be at liberty to protect themselves by entering into a military alliance arrangement provided (a) this alliance arrangement is purely defensive in character and (b) that it is communicated to the other High Contracting Party.
III
This Treaty arrangement shall supersede any Treaty arrangement of earlier date dealing with the defence of territorial rights in the regions to which this Treaty refers.
-
Handed to the Secretary of State by Mr. Balfour, Nov. 11, 1921.
The memorandum bears corrections in Mr. Balfour’s handwriting. Words which he crossed out are indicated by canceled type; words which he inserted are printed in italics. In a marginal note he says: “The word ‘arrangement’ as used in this informal and tentative document is deliberately vague.”
↩ - See pp. 271 ff.↩