Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-12-27
UR-POWER PACT
ASCERTAIN TOPASS.
SENATE IN THE END
Believed Democrats Will
Place Honor of Country
Above Partisanship and
Lend Support to Treaty
BY ROBERT T. SMALL

made it evident that no action can
be taken until after a long and per
haps embarrassing debate, it seems
certain at this time that the four
power Pacific treaty, applying to
the mainland of Japan as well as to
her Pacific islands, will ultimately
be ratified by the senate.
Conservative senators of both par
ties frankly declare that if the Unit
ed States should repudiate another
treaty-and especially a treaty nego
tiated and signed in her own CAPT
tal-this country would be placed in
an intolerable position before the
world. No effort America might
make for world betterment in the
future would be taken seriously by
the other nations. In any future
foreign intercourse requiring treaty
action, the other nations, it is
argued, might easily be justified in
demanding that the American plenl
potentiaries bring with them writ
ten assurances from 1he senate, Or
ratifying branch of the government
as we'll as from the executive or
treaty-making branch.
Strange as it may seem in these
days of strife and turmoil, there
still are some senators who place
the honor of their country above
mere partisan advantage. Therefore.
while the Democrats may in debate
have some pretty bitter things to
say to the Republicans who wrecked
the foreign policy of the Wilson ad-
ministration, it is generally believed
that in the end they will lend suf-
ficient support to put the Pacific
treaty safely through the surging
senate.
Purpose of Reservations
There is a growing feeling in
Washington that no reservations
hostile to the views of the Ameri-
can delegation which negotiated the
treaty will be successful in the SEN
ate. President Harding and Senator
Lodge hold the view that no reser-
vations are necessary to clarity the
treaty or to define Americas obi
cations under it. But reservations
are to be offered and fought over,
and it is certain the Democrats will
make much of these reservations in
debate in order to bring out for fu-
ture political use) what they claim
to be the inconsistencies of Repub-
lican senators whose reservations
threw the treaty Of Versailles into
the realm of national politics and
into a presidential campaign.
The foreign delegates and foreign
in Washington have
unquestionably been disturbed by
the incidents of the week and the
growing opposition to the American
delegation as to the exact scope of
the compact. Mr. Harding has done
everything he could to minimize this
particular incident and has declared
with great deal of reason that
after all. nothing has happened to
change the real intent and purport
of the treaty. The presidents po-
sition that it is immaterial whether
the treaty is held to apply to the
mainland of Japan or not, is coin
cided in by many senators. Demo
Gratis as well as Republicans.
There are not many persons in
Washington, however, so generous
as the president in taking the view
that the point was SO immaterial
as to have made little or no differ
ence whether the American delegates
notified the president of their action
in acquiscing to the mainland con-
tention in the secret sessions which
framed the treaty.
Lodge Under Fire
Senator Lodge is under consider
able fire for having failed to men
ton the mainland of Japan as com
ing within the purvieW of the treaty.
He mentioned virtually every other
island within the entire eXpanse of
the Lilly sprinkled waters of the
Pacific" but overlooked the Japa'
nese mainland.
Senator Lodge is likely to continue
to bear the brunt Of the blame for
the incident involving President Har-
ding, but he will also lead the fight
for ratification in the senate. He
will be seconded, of course, by Scna-
tor Underwood, the titular leader OF
the Democratic minority. 1t is ap
parent now President Harding, after
his own experience in the senate
had the possible difficulties Of rati
fication in mind when he selected
the two party leaders of the senate
for the American delegation. With
the leaders of both parties commit
ted to a treaty; made in Washing
ton, it is inconceiVable that a sue
cessful fight could be made against
such a convention.
1t has been somewhat bewildering
to the foreigners in Washington tt
have the impression thrust upor
them that the entire foreign policy
OF the United States in the future is
likely to be affected at any momen
by domestic partisan considerations
These foreigners had had it pain
fully explained to them that the!
should have placed no faith in any
thing President Wilson did in tn,
name of America at Paris because a
the time Mr.. Wilson's party haC
lost control of the senate.
Not Wanted by Japan
But now President Harding's par
ty is in control of the senate, an(
still the European and Oriental del
I egateS hear talk that the new treaty
signed here in Americas own state
department, may be turned down a
the capital. Even the talk of max
ing reservations in connection will
possible ratification is somewha
amazing to them.
Senator Lodge, author of the res
ervations to the treaty Of Versailles
is certain 70 fight all essential res
ervations to the Pacific pact. A res
ervation, for instance, declaring the
pact shall not apply to the main
land Of Japan would be a direct re
pudiation of the American delega
ton, which recorded it's view in Sc
cret session that the. pact shall ap
ply to the Japanese mainland.
One of the most mystifying dis
closures in this connection is the
statement that Japan did not want
the pact to apply to her mainland
(Tnp1fiyn,.nI ~. -