The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1921-12-30
NO ALLIANCES,
SAYS HARDING
Refuses to Commit United States
to Any Armed
Policy.
PRESIDENT ANSWERS CRITICS
Executives Voice Throbs With Feel
ing When He Replies to His Sen
ate Critics Of the Four
Power Treaty.


throbbing with feeling. President
Harding replied to his senate critics
OF the four-pOwer Pacific treaty. He
made two statements, one prepared.
the other extemporaneous. In the for
mer he declared:
Differing constructions are unin-
portant; no alliance or ENHANCEMENT
is thought of or will be negotiated"
He challenged the "unjustifed
charge" that the United States dele
gates are Withholding information
from him.
This important presidential state
ment was deemed TO be necessary be-
cause of the sensational divergence Of
views between Mr.. Harding and the
four American delegates last Tuesday.
Interpretation OF the treaty the Japa-
nese homeland is not covered by ar
ticle ,. Previously Secretary Hughes
and Senator Lodge had made definite
statements to the contrary.
Sees Peace Progress.
In his eXtempOraneous speech, Pres
ident Harding made the following
points:
Il believe with all my heart that
1921 has witnessed great progress to-
ward peace and understanding. In
this conference is found expression
for a righteous adjustment of disputes
without appeal to slaughter. Man
kind has become wise enough to sit
down and talk whenever the peace of
the world is menaced
IF there were a menace of peace to
Japan, what objection could there be
10 the United States sitting down, say
in New York, with our friends in the
Orient, and seeking a way to avoid a
cOnflictT'
Ii was also learned at the White
House that President Harding does
not consider necessary a reservation
70 the four-power treaty forbidding
the employment Of force under it I'M
less congress should so direct.
In this connection. the attitude of
the President is that his record in the
senate answers the question; that IL is
inconceivable that any President
should think of employing the military
forces Of the United States in warfare
except with the consent of congress.
President Harding's prepared state
ment in part follows:
The President will offer no com
ment on the disputes which attempt
to magnify the differing constructions
on the fOur-pOwer treaty To him
these are unimpOrtant The big things
aimed at are understandings for peace
and an agreement to meet and discuss
the preservation OF peace whenever it
is threatened. No alliance or entangle-
ment is thought Of none will be neeo-
tiated. 1t would be better TO rejoice
over things accomplished than to
dwell on differing views which can be
Of no great consequence.
Charges Unjustifed.
"The President is unwilling that the
unjustified charge that the United
States delegates are Withholding in
formation shall 20 unchaIlenged. lie
has full confidence. else he had not
chosen them. And ne has full conf
dence now and is more than gratified
over their efforts, because they are
working out the greatest contribution
TO peace and good will which has ever
marked the Christmas time in all the
Christian era.
1T is one thing TO talk about the
ideals of peace. but the bigger thing Is
TO seek the actually. This the con
ference is doing, in harmony with an
overwhelming American sentiment.
and a world sentiment too, and in full
accord with cherished American ira
ditiOns."
In an unprepared reply to ques-
ton regarding the League OF Nations.
President Harding said:
II do not think that the league has
anything 10 do with the four-pOwer
treaty or with anything else that is
transporting at this conference. except.
of course. that the League of Nations
was manifestly inspired and organized
10 promote peace End this conference
* aimed ia the same direction. There
is no connection between the League
Of Nations and the aims OF this con
ference except in the Imagination"