The Washington herald., 1922-03-12
HUGHES TELLS
SENATEPACT
:. EU.S. MADE
State Secretary Admits
Drafting Treaty for
Pacific.
SAYS ADOPTION
VITAL TO AMERICA
Brands English or Japa-
nese Origin as Abso-
lutely Unfounded.


the four-power Pacific treaty.
The Secretary volunteered this
Information to those who have been
intimating that the treaty was writ
ten in England or Japan and brought
over here and forced upon the Amer
ican delegates to the arms confer
ence.
At the same time he made IL
clear that Eiihu Root and. Henry
Cabot Lodge both approved. Sena-
tor Underwood was absent from fhe
city due to a death in his family.
In a letter to Senator Underwood.
Democratic member Of the Amari-
can delegation. Secretary HuEhes
disposes- Of the authorship issue anI
denies intimatiOns that the Amer
can delegations were induced to
accept a cunninEly contrived for
eign scheme opposed TO American
interests.
Poer Conception. He Says
"A very poor and erroneous con-
ception Of the work in connection
with The conference" the Secretary
wrote.
Failure to ratify TIRE treaty ,.
declared. would be nothing shcrt
Of a national calamity"
There isn't the slightest mys-
tery about the treaty. or basis of
suspicion regarding it." the Secre-
tary said. in his letter which Sena-
tor Underwood read TO the Senate
yesterday afternoon.
1T is, of course. wholly incou-
sistent with the amenities of in
ternational intercourse. that the
informal and confidential suCres-
tions and conversations Incident TO
negotiations should be stated. hut
the senate may he assured that a
full disclosure Of everything sad
or done in the course Of the neCo-
ttations would reveal nothing de-
rogatory 70 the part taken by any
Of the American delegates or in
Tolve any consideration or accep-
tance of any proposition not err
ttreiy consistent with the ira
dItional noitetes OF this government.
Deals with Alliance.
Tt should be remembered that
the four-power treaty dealt with a
subject-the Anglo-Japanese al
lance-which as an agreement be-
tween two powers competent to
make and continue il. was not. aud
in the nature Of things could NOT
be. approximately placed upon the
agenda. Technically il was a mat
ter outside the conference. although
the conference furnished an excel
lent opportunity for conversations
remedying IT.
while l cannot. OF course. un-
dertake to state what was proposed
or suggested in confidence bv anv
Of the delegates think Il entirely
proper TO say that the negotiations
relating to the four-power treaty
were conducted within limitations
defined by the American govern
ment
Preserves Traditional Right.
The views of this government as
to the Importance Of the termina-
ton Of the AnGlo-Japanese alIianc,
had been communicates long before
the conference met and il had also
been clearly stated that this gov
ernment could enter into M AL
lance or make any commitment OF
the use Of arms or which would
impose any sort of Obligation aS
to its decisions in future cor.iu-
gencies. II must deal with any
eNigency according 10 its constitu-
tional methods.
TT is a straightforward document
which attains one Of the most inn
portant objects the American gov
ernment has had in view end is OF
high Importance to the mainte nance
Of friendly relations in the Far East
upon sound basis" he said. Then
he added:
A full disclosure Of ,vsrvrhiru
id ar hnna in sha. - hn
gotiations would not reveal any
fact dercgatory to the part taken
by any OF the American delegates
or involve any consideration or ar
ceptance Of any position not entire
ly consistent with tho traditional
policies OF this government.
No secret Pacts.
That there are no secret notes or
understandings.
That the negotiations resulting IN
the four-pOwer treaty "Wer" con-
Quoted within limitations dctiEcd by
the American government"
That the treaty itself is SO Gear
and simple in its engagements that
no ingenuity in argument or nos
tile criticism can add To them or
make them other or greater han
its unequivocal language sets forth
That there is not the slightest
mystery about the treaty nor has
for suspicion regarding IL"
That in view of the fact that the
treaty is an essential part Of the plan
to create lasting peace in the Pa
cific. its rejection by the Sens'e
would be nothing short OF a ma
tional calamity"
Secretary Hughes wrote this to Sou
ator Underwood. but wRs speaking
directly TO Senators who are iEht-
ing the treaty. He said they had
implied in debate thst in some ways
''the American delegates have been
imposed upon or that they were in
duced to accept some plan cunning,y
contrived by others and opposed ~
our interests"
Apart from this reflection thus cast
on the competency OF the delegates.
two of which were Senators. Hughes
said this betrayed "a very poor and
erroneous conception OF the work in
connection with the conference, ~
part OF which. whether within o.
outside conference meetings. Was hc-
gun. prosecuted or concluded in in
trigue."
Hughes went into the p-elimina-
ries. telling how long before the con-
ference met. the United States gov
ernment had made clear its views
as to the Importance Of the tcf-