Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-12-22
WILL HARO|NG'S
"BON[HEAO PLAY"
DEFEAT TREATY?
That is tho Question Of Deepest
Interest Now Stirring
Washington.
He MADE REMARKS
THAT RAISED RUMPUS
And Then Made Things Even
Worse by Attempted
Explanation.
AND NOW THERE is CONCERN
MD NOW THERE is CONCERN
ny Charles Brewer Farmer.


Washington. Dec. 2s.---wnl Presi-
dent Hardings "bonehead play" de-
feat the Treaty of Washington?
That is the main conversational
topic in Washington oflicialdom this
morning.
when the Treaty was promulgated
it was conceded by partisans and non
partisaus alike that tho Pacific pact
would slide through tho Senate with
little, If any real opposition.
Then tho President made what may
lbecome one Of the most famous bone
head plays" in the history Of diplo-
macy. He. formally announced at the
White House Tuesday afternoon that
the Treaty does not cover tho princi-
Ipal islands Of the Japanese Empire.
This was a view directly opposite 10
that which tho state Department had
announced the day before. Likewise
it was an opposite opinion 10 that
held by tho British. French and Jap
anese. although the latter very diplo
niaticslly refused to discuss the mat
ter further after the Presidents views
! had been published,
No sooner had the President spoken
than Senstors Lodge and Underwood
American deiegates--cslled at the
B White House TO explain TO him just
what. IN their opinion, the Treaty Of
Washington did mean. They told him
, it did cover the principal islands Of
, the japanese Empire.
? All right, Mr.. Harding so much as
said. 20 be Il. A statement was issued
! at. o'clock from tho White House.
In which it was pointed out that the
y Treaty Of Washington means jist
] what the men who framed II meant
lit 10 mean. In other words. at o'clock
= the White House turned its mind in
side out and accepted the other view
point.
Tho diplomats attending the Con-
ference may have been Mortified at
the Presidents seeming ignorance OF
the provisions OF the Treaty which
he is to father; but certain Senators
on the Hill were literally dumfounded
Senator McNary Of oregon let 1t be
known that he would oppose the pact
. 4 McNary, you remember. is Republic
can. Senator Hitchcock. member q
the Foreign Relations Committee
whose early declaration favorins thS
pact had heartened the Administra,
.s ton, wobblcd yesterday and gave evi.
/ dence that he might oppose il IL the
Is President himself didn't understand
IL.
n Jim Reed of Missouri unleashed hi.
: satirical tongue, and lato yesterday
afternoon put on a Senatorial show
- for the many visitors-includinS som'
ID of the foreigners-wso crowded III,
/ Senate galleries. 1t was Reeds speech
L primarily, thar caused many gooc
=, diplomat TO lie awake last nigh
N wondering whether the pact would b,
he ratified. after all.
~ The Missourian said he was in favo
,s of open Conference sessions, so tha
lie the President could keep informed
If the sessions can't be open. then in
~ stall telephone line Should that b
y inadvisable, wireless should be used
le He hintcd that Mr.. Harding's igno
to rance was appalling which was
= point that doubtless many diploma
10 In his heart agreed upon. lie said tina
the President didn't know whether tn
entire Japanese empire. the mainland
or only the little atolls (lillcs OF III
= souS Pacific to which Lodge referre
IL so poetically week asol arc guar
ce anteed against attack.
of This Treaty, he declared, vas writ
~ ten so ambiguously that even tn
~ learned President of the United State
of did not know exactly what il mean
n ANY construction you want TO put o
1t Is all right 70 Warren" he declare
sarcastically. while some foreign Wis
itors in the galleries squirmed.
Reed then told the story of III
"A wheelright and the blacksmith VIII
,u went in partnership and placed III
he sign before their shop: "An sorts
OF twistings and turnings done here
by There wasn't one of his auditors b,
knew the exact application Of tn;
AS illustration.
lp- The members Of the various deleg;
tionss and the foreign newspaper me
who came with them. are not talkir
~ ~ out loud this morning. bur the thin:
,le which some men are saying sot
continued on page 2.