The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-12-12
FOE
OFlEACUE
SEES HOPE .
IN TREATY
Position Of. Other "Irreconcil-
ables" in Senate Remains
in Doubt.
By j. BART CAMPBELL
International News Service.

Unqualified Endorsement of the
four power Pacific treaty by Sena-
tor Miles Poindexter, Republican, of
Washington, today dashed the hopes
of a small group of Senate "irrecon-
cilables" that he would join them in
the offensive" they are planning
against the new pact.
Led Fight on League.
PoindexAr, "irreconcilably" OPP
posed to the League of Nations, was
one of the Senators who started two
years ago the long. bitter, and sue
cessful fight against ratification of
the Versailles treaty by the Senate.
The others were Senator Borah,
Republican,, of Idaho, and Reed,
DemocraU, of Missouri, who are
now pitted against the new internas
tional agreement.
Borah, still preserving an ominous
silence regarding the treaty, today
announced that il he had any state
ment to make in explanation of his
attitude toward 1t he would make ii
on the floor of the Senate.
There was widespread speculation
as to the position Senator Johnson,
(RepubNcan) of California, would
assume. 1t was said, however, that
johnson, before his recent departure
for his San Francisco home, left a
protracted conference he had with
President Harding at the White
House satisfied that whatever "as-
sociation of nations" plan the Presi-
dent had in mind would not commit
the United States to the League of
Nations.
Disagrees With Colleagues.
Poindexter disagreed with those of
his Republican or Democratic col.
leagues, who, i'm criticism or approval
of the treaty, declared 1t to be a "step
in the direction of tho League of Ma
| tions," or an alliance between the
United States, Great Britain, France
or japan.
| "The claim that the u oaty creates
a league of nations has no foundation
! in the instrument ITSELF" PoindextSr
said.
/ lie made it clear that his approval Of
the treaty did not alter his opposition
to the United States entering into any
agreement for the maintenance of the
existing status of Pacific fortifications
and naval bases.
1 "The treaty has no necessary con.
nection with the question of naval
ratio or of naval bases" Poindexf2r
added.
"Statesmanlike Achievement"
81 regard the treaty" he continued.
"as a statesmanlike achievement Of
the first order. 1t creates no new
agencies of Government and no new
responsibilities or obligatione,
Really, in effect, 1t is an agreement
of the nations to act decently and hui
namely in their relations with one an
other. In my opinion, 1t measurably
removes possible causes of war, and
should go a long ways toward the
preservation of peace"
The four-power Pacific treaty is In
complete harmony with the spirit
and purpose of the famous arbitra
ton treaties negotiated by William
Jennings Bryan and ratified by the
Senate when he was Secretary oi
state.
This was the verdict today Of Sen
, ator McCumber of North Dakota
, ranking Republican member Of the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee
and Of other Senators, Republican
and Democratic. who expressed ap
proval of the new international agree
: ment.
, Senator McCumber pointed on
: that the treaty, to oil intents and
/ purposes, Is similar to the Bryas
treaties which the United States al