New Britain herald., 1922-02-24
Neither Is America Com- mitted To Armed Force Or Obliged To Join In Any Defense
Senate Will Vote Tomorrow On Four Power Treaty and All Its Proposed Re- serve Clauses.

Washington, Feb. 24.-A modified blanket reservation to the four pow CT Pacific treaty, said to be satisfac- tory both 10 President Harding and to d ma ajority of the members of the senate foreign relations committee, was debated by the committee today and an agreement reached to vote on the treaty itself and all proposed res- crvations at tomorrow's session.
 Brandcgee's Report.
 The new reservation was laid be- fore the committee by Senator Bran- degee, republican, Connecticut, after a conference with President Harding. The Connecticut senator was said not to have reported it as embodying the presidents views. but the under standing of committee members was that it would be acceptable to the White House.
 Text of Reservation
 The text of the reservation follows:
 .The United States understands that under the statement in the pre- ambIe or under the terms of this treaty there is no commitment to armed force. no alliance. no obliga- ton to join in any defense
 Not Unanimous.
 Although apparently acceptable to most of the republican and demo- cratic reservationists on the commit tee. the reservation, according to to- days decision will not receive unan- imous commtte approval. Senator Johnson, republican, California, was said to have shown opposition during the meeting and it was generally ex- pected that Senator Rorah. repuo'l- can, Idaho, who was absent, would take a similar position
 Is Shorter Than Other.
 The compromise reservation 's more direct and shorter than the or isinal Brandegee blanket proposal, to which majority of the committee members previously had indicated their support Under the original reservation the United States would have set forth in detail that it was to assume no moral or legal obllgatlon under the treaty or any adjustments resulting from it without the consent of congress.
 Preamble Important.
 Particular reference to the pre- amble of the treaty is said to nave been made in the new draft because the preamble states that the agree ment is made with a view to the pres ervation of the general peace and the maintenance of the rights of the sig natory powers. The word main tenance does not appear however, among the commitments of the treaty proper.
 Fight May Be Short
 Committee acceptance of the com- promise, if formally agreed to tomor- row, is expected to shorten the reser- yation fight which was developing in the senate although it appears cer- tain that various other proposed res ervations will be brought forward both in committee and on the senate floor and will lead to considerable de- bate. Senator Johnson already has one pending in the committee which would attempt to define the word rights, as used in the treaty. Final favorable action on the reservation and the treaty in the committee Is not expected to result in an immediate report to the senate. the leaders indl- eating that they will hold all the re- maining arms conference treaties in committee until a report on all Of them is ready.
 It is the hope of the leaders 10 have such a report completed by the end of next week by which time 1t is expected that senate debate will De concluded on the separate treaty with Japan relating to the island of 1ap.
 Today the senate met an hour earlier than usual in order to expedite the Yap treaty debate, the treaty be- ing given the right of way and re- publican leaders hoping for early &C., ton.