The New York herald., 1922-02-17
ASKS MORE
FACTS ON TREATIES
President Called On to Tell
How Four Power Pact
Was Negotiated.
EXPECT QUICK REPLY
Hitchcock Amazed That
No Record Was Kept of
the Proceedings.
NO PROTEST FROM LODGE
Heads of Delegations Worked
Out Details-Other Agree
ments Before Committee.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16.-Senate debate
on the four Power Pacific treaty be-
gan to-day with preliminary tilt re-
sulting in a request to President
Harding for all available information
as to how the treaty was negotiated.
An hour OF general discussion, which
brought to the surface various cross
currents of Senate opinion, but failed
to develop definitely the relative
strength of supporters and opponents
of the treaty, preceded adoption of the
formal request for information. The
resolution of request had the support
of Republican and Democratic leaders
alike and was approved without rec
ord vote.
While it awaited the Presidents reply
the Foreign Relations Committee de-
cided to go ahead with other treaties
resulting from the arms negotiations in
the hope that ali Of them might be
pressed to ratification without consider
able delay. At a meeting late in the
day, the committee completed its read
ing of the naval limitation and subma
rine treaties without bringing to light
any indication of opposition. To-mor-
row it will read through the general
Far Eastern and Chinese tariff pacts.
Senator Hitchcock (Neb), ranking
Democratic member of the commit
tee and leader of the unsuccessful fight
for ratification of the Treaty of Ver-
sailles, presented the resolution request
ing full information from the President
With some minor changes in phraseol-
ogy, it was accepted promptly by Sena-
tors Lodge (Mess.) and Underwood
(Ala.), Republican and Democratic
Senate leaders, respectively, and both
members of the American deega-
tion 10 the arms conference, although
each declared he knew of no informa-
ton regarding the four Power negotia-
tions that was not already before the
Senate.
No Minutes OF Proceedings.
Senator Underwood. explaining at
length why no record of the negotiations
was kept, declared the discussions could
not be carried on in a public way be-
cause they concerned principally the alb
rogation of the Anglo-Japanese alli-
ance, subject on which the American
delegation could speak only by private
suggestion.
The "heads of delegations" Mr.. I'm
derwood added. conducted directly most
of the international exchanges leading
up to the treaty.
Declaring himself "amazed" that nc
minutes of so important discussion had
been kept. Senator Hitchcock replied
that his resolution at least might result
in IiUh ~,
questions raised in regard to interpreta
ton of the treaty terms. Senator John
son (Cal), Republican, also declared
further explanation was due the Sem
ate and the American people. since tn
900 page book of data submitted with
the treaties contained scarcely ref
erence to the four Power pact.
Replying to a suggestion from Sena-
tor Pomerene, Democrat (Ohio). that
there may have been several drafts OF
the treaty before the final one was pro-
duced. Senator Underwood said that so
far as he remembered only the final
draft came before the American dele
cation.
Senator Lodge indorsed that. except
to say that he had laid a draft before
the head of the American delegation" be-
fore the negotiations concluded. Senator
Johnson asked for passage of the resolu-
tion, so that the desired information
m light be forthcoming with the least pos
sible delay. He congratulated Senator'S