The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-12-17
FOUR POWER TREATY
ATTACKED BY REED
Says United States Would Have Lit
tie to Gain and Much to Lose
BY Alliance.
(By The Associated PRESS

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16.-While an
other assault on the four power Pacific
treaty was in progress today in the
senate, administration spokesman took.
their first notice Of the senate discus
sions and let it he known that they
did not regard the treaty as imposing
an obligation to take up arms.
No provision Of the new agreement,
it was declared in highest administra-
ton circles, obTgates any one of the
four powers to take military measures
in pursuance of decisions reached by
consultations among them. It was
added that any such guararrtee did not
in any sense represent the spirit Of the
treaty.
The officials were not willing to 60
further in interpreting the pact, but
in response to questions they reiterat-
ed their understanding that the re
gion of the Pacific ocean" as the term
is used in the treaty text, includes the
principal islands of the Jaranese en-
pire and Australia and New Zealand
as we'll British spokesman have en-
dorsed that application of the terms
and have declared it to be the unani-
nous understanding in which the
treaty was signed.
The attack on the treaty in the SEN
ate during the day was by Senator
Reed, democrat, Missouri, who referred
to the question of including Japan
proper within the scope of the pact
and declared an obligation was includ-
ed for protection Of Japanese terri
torial integrity. He again character
lied the arrangement as an alliance
by which the United States would
have little to gain and much to lose.
Senator Reed also declared the four
power plan might compel the United
States to go 10 war against China or
Russia on this point official admin.
istration spokesman have insisted re-
peated1y that the treaty in no way af-
fects the mainland of Asia and could
not be invoked in relation to ques-
lions arising within Chinese or Rus
sian jurisdiction.
Further than this, there has been
no attempt 10y the administration to in
terpret or explain the language of the
treaty repeated queries meeting with
the response that the text of the agre-
ment speaks for itself.
The same attitude OF silence has
DGGh d0OpbEu ny dhHllillSLIelIOl SGt1d-
tors, and after the three-hour attack
on the four-powe Pacific treaty today
by Senator Reed, Senator Curtis Of
Kansas, their party whip, announced
that there would be no discussion of
the subject until 1t is formally sub
mitted by President Harding.
Mr.. Curtis statement was made, it
was understood, as an explanation for
the fact that no speeches had been
made in favor of the treaty and in re-
ply to the attacks Of Senators Reed
and Borah, republican, Idaho. Taken
in conjunction with the party policy
Of the democrats, who have decided
TO maintain silence. leaders on both
Sides predicted a minimum of debate
on the new pact until after the arn1a-
ment conference is ended. At that
time, it has been indicated, all of the
agreements reached in the conference
will be forwarded to the capital
Senator Reed, however, announced
another purpose. He proposed to send
the treaty to the American people
just as was done with the treaty of
Versailles" and he predicted that by
the time the voters have an opportu-
nifty to act on the question, they will
know that this treaty has all of the
vices charged to the treaty Of Yer
sailles with none of it's virtues"