Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1922-03-21
Bitter Debate On
Treaty in Senate
Senator Lodge Resents At
tacks Which Seem to Ques-
iton His Patriotism.

Washington, March 20.-Senate debate
on the four-power Pacific treaty touched
it's high water mark of bitterness today
in an exchange resulting from sugges-
tions of secret British-Amertcan un-
derstanding for future cooperation.
Aroused by recurring references TO
such an international understanding al
ter it's existence had been directly denied,
Senator Lodge of Massa chusetts, the re-
publican leader and a member OF the
American arms delegation. took the floor
and in a voice shaken by emotion de-
clared he could no longer be patient IN
der attacks which seemed to question MS
patriotism and iInpugn his honor.
Replying in a fashion scarcely less
dramatic, Senator Robinson, democrat,
Arkansas. an opponent of the treaty, told
The senate he questioned no ones motives
but proposed to do his patriotic duty as
he saw It Without permitting himself to
be 'intimidated by outburstssof indigna-
tion." He remained convinced, he said,
| that both of the senate's representatives
| of the delegation were amazingly igno1-
! ant of some of the things done at the
| conference.
| The exchange between Senators Lodge
| and Robinson. which was part of long
| debate sown broadcast with charges of
| SANDER" "untruths' and propaganda,
+! took place shortly after the republican
| leader and other prominent figures in his
party organization had canvassed the
whole treaty at a White House confe1-
ence with President Harding. Besides
| Mr.. Lodge those who were present in
| cluded Chairman John r Adams of the
! republican national committee, Senator
| Mccormick of Illinois. chairman Of the
i paTty's senatorial campaign committee.
| and Senator Curtis of Kansas, republican
/ whip of the senate.
The presence of so many party chiefs
| at the conference led to the impression
that they discussed with the president
| the possible injection of the arms con-
| ference treaties into the coming congress
sional campaign. but some Of the sena-
tors who attended said afterwards that
| the primary purpose was to give Mr.
Harding the latest information as to tht
line upon the four-power treaty ratifica-
ton vote to be taken Friday. 1t was
! said the president reiterated his accept
/ 4 nee of the mo aFanee" reservation
drafted by the foreign relations commit.
tee and was told there were enough
votes pledged to ratify the treaty OF
that basis.
! Late in the day the president alsc
called in two democratic senators, Snnitf
Of South Carolina and Kendrick of Wy
oHning for a discussion of the treaty sit
uatien. The senator's on leaving thu
White House would Eot even admit tha.
The treaties had been the subject of con
versation or from what particular stand
point they had been discussed. At tn
same time, administration officials reft
Grated that the treaties were certain Il
be- ratified blrt did not indicate whethe
additional dcqr ocratic votes were sougn
; or She s. ass5ls- u reservations was unde
| cons deration
Suggestion of o British-American un
| derstanding for future concerted actiol
. was thrown into the debate by Senate
Borah, republican, Idaho, who read
statement regarding the conference re
suits he said had been made by Paul D
Cravath, a New York attorney. In thi
statement Mr.. Cravath was quoted a
saying he had been told by ''every mem
bers of the American delegation tina
the conference resulted in an unwrittel
understanding between the United State
| and Great britain of such a characte
that both sides assume that in all fu
ture emergencies they can both count o.
| having the very closest cooperation.
The accuracy of this assertion wa
promptly denied by Senator Lodge an
by Senator Underwood OF Alabama, tn
democratic leader, and also member o
: the American delegation. Senator Tn
| NCi NOOO Sci'l IiC OtN llOL ICCd4l ever Lid '
ing met Mr.. Cravath and Senator Lodg
| declared he never talked with him o
; the subject Both asserted positively an
: directly that so far as they knew no sue
r understanding exiGted or. ever had bee
discussed.
By Senator Robinson it was argue
t that Mr.. Cravath as well as Secretar
Hughes and EEhu Root. the other tw
American delegates. sh ould be called be
e fore the foreign relations committee be
! fore the senate voted on ratification c
: the treaty It was indicated that q me
ton to send the treaty back to the CON
m1ttee with instructions to investigat
further its meaning might be made late
, but the administration leaders said tc
: night there was no possibility that sue
/ a move would succeed.