New-York tribune., 1921-12-25
Agreement
Over Treaty
Seems Sure
Harding Expected to Con-
sent to Reservations
to Clear Up Confusion
in Regard to Japanese

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From The Tribumc's Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, Dec. 24.-Senate Cos
sip concerning the four-power treaty
to-day continued to revolve about the
question of reservations. Senate lead
ers are fully convinced that the treaty
is going to be ratified. They see moth
ing in the situation which is at all
likely to develop to prevent it.
President Harding's statement of his
views yesterday as to the Importance
of achieving the main result, the pro-
motion of peace, is expected to add to
the strength of the treaty On the
other hand, there are distinct indica-
tions that no clash of opinion as to the
true Interpretation of the four-power
treaty, and as to whether Japan proper
is included, will be permitted to affect
the result. The view is widely held bv
Senators who will support the treaty
that if clarifying amendment on this
point seems to be necessary it will be
put. in, and that the Administration
will not oppose it,
No Opposition Looked For
One prominent member of the Sem
ate said to-day he had been given to
understand that the Administration
would not oppose a reservation which
would exclude the mainland of japan.
and would also not oppose an amend
ment which would make it clear that
none of the countries in the agreement
would be morally or legally bound to
use force.
IT Is known that the views of some of
the Republicans who expect to vote for
the treaty that a reservation excluding
the mainland of Japan should be
adopted will be laid before Senator
Lodge to-day, and that he will be ad
vl~ed tnat 1t is expedient to put in a
reservation on this point if the con-
ference itself does not clarity the mat
ter.
There. has been, in the oninion of
many observers here, no real oppor
tunlty to feel the pulse of the~countrv
on this situation because there has
been so much wild distortion of the
facts IN newspaper accounts. For ex-
ample, one of the most conservative
and carefully accurate-as a rule
newspapers in the country, paper of
large circulation and wide influence
has been pounding into it's readers a
charge that this four-power treaty
gives to Japan, in the way of territorial
guaranty, what this country had re-
fused to give France, in the defensive
alliance treaty which is still pigeon
holed in the Senate
Harding Clarifies Issue
President Harding's' demand to knew
what objection there could be, if the
main islands of Japan should be threat
ened, if this country should sit down
with the Japanese, French and Brit
ish and discuss the situation, put the
question plainly, without distortion. to
the people of the country this morn
ing on the front page of virtually every
newspaper. This is the first time any
thing of the sort has been done by the
defenders of the treaty.
So observers here are hopeful that
the country may now give a genuine
reaction, based on the situation as it
is, rather than attack men of straw,
which are certainly nonresident, SO
far as the fourpower treaty is con-
cerned.
Senator Ladd, of North Dakota. Re-
publican, who had the support of the
Nonpartisan League, came out to-day
against the treaty. He takes the view
this alliance would invite an alliance
against it.
There can be no arrangement in the
direction of permanent peace" said
Senator Ladd, without taking in Rus
sia >and Germany and all the Central
Powers. have been in sympathy with
this conference and hoped it would ac-
complish something, but / am begin
ming to be discouraged. | do not think
T. can support the agreement unless it
is enlarged"