Evening star., 1921-12-23
TREATY APPROVAL
SEEN BY PRESIDENT
Feels Confident of Final Ac.
ceptance of Pact by
Senate.
BY \. o. MESSENGER.

president Harding is reported be
ing perfectly easy in his own mind
over the eventual ratification of the
four-power Pacific treaty by the
United States Senate. and as not dis
turbed over the pending furry as to
the application of the treaty to the
homeland of Japan.
In other official and in diplomatic
quarters the disposition is said to be
to regard the current interest as
largely tempest in teapot. al
though there were rumors today that
the Japanese are inclined to be tena-
cious of the view that the treaty does
not apply. They are represented as
cherishing a sentimental objection on
the score that to make it apply to ia
pan and not to other countries would
be in depreciation of Japan's national
pride by the insinuation that she is a
weaker nation. needing protection.
In this connection it is pointed out
that the intent of the treaty is net to
extend military protection to any OF
the signatory powers by the others. IN
case Of menace. but to provide for the
removal of friction through the exer-
else of good Offices. reasoning. kindly
understanding and common sense as
alternatives to resort to arms.
Expect Free senate Debate.
In administration circles the view
is said to be that all this can be read
i.y and satisfactorily explained when
the treaty comes up for consideration
in the Senate 1t is not contemplated
to consider it behind closed doors in
the Senate. and debate is expected to
be full and free.
Friends of the administration call
attention to the suggestion that oD-
iections to the treaty. which are now
characterized in the main as academic.
if not supposititious. and, indeed. flctl-
tious, must give way before one
obvious, controlling fact-that the
treaty. when ratified, abolishes the
Anglo-Japanese alliance.
If the Washington conference ac-
complished nothing more than that
one end. it would be considered as
well worth having been held. This
point will be kept constantly before
the ewes of those who would de1eat
the treaty, and likewise before the at
tention of the country.
AS long as that alliance hoids. ma.
would be considered questionable, 1t
is argued, and the hope OF the coun-
try and of the world is considered as
being centered upon that objective.
See Successful Rebuttal.
The supporters of the treaty expect
to be able to successfully refute all
contentious that the four-power pact
constitutes an alliance of nations. in
Guiding the United States. offensive
to the widely held feeling in this
country against entangling foreign
alliances.
This proposed concert of action
among the powers is analyzed as but
a cooperation of the nations in good
fellows ship and for peaceful purposes,
with objects not to be attained by the
use of force, but through reasoning
and mutual agreement.
The administration is said to be
confident that this contention can be
successfully maintained by the ar
,, guments Of the great international
lawyers in the Senate who will
espouse in debate and argument the
cause ofSthe treaty when it comes up
for ratification.
The drift of editorial opinion in
some of the most influential journals
Of the country is steadily in favor of
ratification of the treaty. This sup
port is expected to have. weight, as
reflective of the thought of the ma
tion.