Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1921-12-13
Senate Discussed
-Four Power Treaty
Attacked by Senators Borah
and Reed-P Poindexter Con
Quoted Defense.

Washington, Dec. 1.-THE senate got
its first taste today of the fight promis-
ed by several senators on the new four
power Pacific treaty.
The pact was both denounced and de-
Tended in he course of two hous discus
sion
AS at the opening of the long fight on
the treaty of Versailles and Its eague Of
Nations covenant practically all of the
new quadruple treaty was read into the
congressional record in advance of form
al submission.
The attack today came from two ir-
reconciiablas' in the Versailles covenant
controversy, Senators Borah, republican,
Idaho, and Reed, democrat, Missouri.
Breaking the silence he had maintained
since the treaty was laid before the
world, Mr. Borah spoke more than an
hour devoting his attention to article
| two of the new treaty which he compar-
ed to article ten of the Versailles COW
enant. He declared that the treaty COM
PEELED the armament conference to make
real disarmament an actuality or make
the treaty a straight out military alli-
| ance"
| Mr. Borall explained his attitude to-
ward the treaty would be governed to
an extent by progress of the conference
toward real disarmament" and settle
ment of Chinese questions. The work
of the Washington conference, he said,
would be 'discoura ging" if it adjourned
without barring, by terms of the treaty,
the use Of submarines, poisonous gases
and other "barborous" weapons Of war
| fare.
Defense Of the pact conducted largely
by Senator Poindexter. republican
W lit IL. II
the whole question of what obligations
were entailad upon the United States by
the new agreement.
Senator Poindexter told the senate that
some seemed unduly alarmed about the
pact and declared that article two could
not be construed as the equivalent Of
article ten
! Senator Reed, breaking into the de.
bate at this point, said Senator Poindex.
ter's statement meant that the new treaty
was worth little as binding agreement
He added that if the Ursted States wa.
not going 10 observe its moral obiiga
tions such rs lie contended were contain
ed in te treaty, the country would be
, come the laughing stock of the Who'll,
world"
Mr.. Borah said he regarded the mora
obligations Of traticle two as compel
article ten Of the League of Nation
: and in this he was supported by Senate
Robinson, democrat, Arkansts, who de
clared that taken together articles on
/ and two of the treaty were "even strong
: err than *rticle ten. Mr.. Robinson add
t ed, however. that he was entering no OBJ
lection to the nact.
Hows would they oppose an aggres
! sive policy on the part OF son7e ma
flon, for instance" interrupted Mr.. Reed
IN event he conference of the four pow
} ers decided they should oppose it?"
BY force, Of course, replied NJ,
Robinson.
2 Continuing, Mr. Borah said that Will
: sponsors of the treaty declared ther
' were no provisions to use military forc
lurking in or about the treatv.n III
( moral obligation remained. He contenf
j ed that while American delegates to an
conference provided for under the treat
could not legally bind the president {
congress. the obligations to carry OF
the decision Of the conference still rt
mained.
In the language o. Napoleon, the,
Senator Stanley. democrat. Kentucl5
y interrupted. these four powers xlten
i 10 have oeace '.Sder the treaty even
) they have 20 fight for it,
r oelator -Nlng, democrat, Utah, inuu
e ed OF Mr.. Borah whether the four powt
agreement did not contain more ross
bilities of war than did the Jeaene
Nations covenant
= I'll discuss that and some other nr
Il visions Of this treaty later" Mr.. Bora
= = replied.
The work of Secretary Hughes
: presentation Of the American naval r
v uuceion programme was commended /
! Mr.. Borah, who said that bv the 100,
g else and bold" methods employed nv :,
# state department head he had won II
q right to be placed "among the gre
.s prem1ers and secretaries of state of hi
is Tory The programme of naval redu
W tion was described by Mr. Borah
,e worthy of praise but he added that +
g eonlerence SC far as the public h
% been informed has not dealt ui+J, :
;. weapons with which the next war W
: be fought