New-York tribune., 1922-02-12
Senate Takes
Up Power
Treaty First
committee Adjourns to
Thursday, After Brief
Discussion; Won't Hur-
ry Action, Lodge Saws

A|t1 .
PROM the Tr:1umc's Washington Burecu
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1l.-Thc Sen
ate Foreign Relations Committee to-
day began consideration of the four
power Pacific treaty, which was do.
scrlncd yesterday in President Har-
o'hg message to the Senate az the
outstanding compact Of peace for the
rac'''c. In taking UP the four power
treaty first the committee was follow
ing up the opinion Of the President tba.
the naval limitation program as set
forth in the five power naval treatv
cannot be rcadjustcd until the other
treaties growing out of the Washi,ic
TON conference have been approved.
Inc committee discussed tho treaty.
at some length, but made little prog
ress toward final acton on it. Ad
journment was taken until next Tnrrs
day, owing to the fact that Senator
Lodge. chairman, viii he out Of the city
until that time.
No indication was given as 20 when
tnc committee will be able to make It's
report on the treaties or on any Of
tN'm. Senator Lodge after the meet
lng, however. was Of the impression
mat two treaties could not be hurried
through the committee and that il was
impossible TO predict when they would
be reported
Strategy Of Plan Apparcn.
In some quarters it was expected the
naval agreement would be taken up
first and reported promptly. inasmuch
as there 's practically NO opposi SION
TO it. II is plain, however that the
Administration leaders IN the Senate
regard it as better strategy TO pLt the
four-powcr treaty 20 tho front and to
hold It up as the agreement ON which
the success cf the naval agreement dr.
rcrds. II tho naval agreement wcrc to
he ratified and disposed Of. there would
be. in the opinion Of some Senators
less disposition in tho senate TO ratifv
fhc ether treaties than there viii be if
1t IS held back.
Under the plan winch Tic committed
is pursuing of putting the four-pove-
treaty 10 Tho front, the opponents Of
this treaty are forced into the posi-
ton. in seeking 20 defeat it. OF ind
rectly seeking to knock out the whole
program of tho conference. including
the naval agreement. Al least the Ad
rinistration Senators viii charge the
ornos;tior with taking such u course.
and the opposition will. TO an extent.
b. put on the defensive.
With tho Foreign Relations Commit
tcc taking up the four-p power treaty
first, 1t Is expected this will be the
frst treaty considered and disposed Of
BY the Senate itself. The Republican
leaders will have no difficulty in adopt
ing this program, inasmuch as the qucs-
ton Of procedure can be settled if need
be by majority vote, despite the fact
Two thirds vote is required for lat-
ifcaton.
Lodge Answers Queries
Senators Hcrah. Brandcgee and
Hitchcock. at the meeting to-day, asked
many questions Of Senator Lodge con-
corning the obligations under the four
power treaty They went outside the
report Of the delegates aud the prog
rcso o. the conference and put forth
many iAtorrogatories as to the exact
scope and meaning OF the treaty's
terms. ia answering these, Senator
Lodge again stressed the idea that use
~ tcitt Uilucl ATtlCiG ~ OF tHt lOuI-
power treaty - not contemplated.
One OF the questions asked Of Soma
tor Lodge was what is the meaning Of
the word "rights' as used in the four
power treaty, wherein each nation
agrees to respect the rights Of the
other. Senator Borah wanted TO know
whether rights meant recognized ter
ritora! lghts OF whether they included
claims Of al sorts and alleged rights.
He cited the case of the island Of
Saghaien, pointing out that Japan MS
the southern half OF it and claims
lights in thc northern half. He wanted
to know if such rights AS these came
Within the purview OF the treaty. This
question was left open for further dis
cusson.
The exact meaning of the expression
adjustment was also gone into and
Senator Lodge was interrogated about
this and how far a conference of pow
ei5 called under the four-powec pact
would he empowered to reach an actual
(Coniinusd next pnts)