Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-02-07
SENATE Will
PASS TREATIES
IS BELlEVE Ed
Leaders Count On Naval
Pact to Carry Others
Through With It
TO SENATE SOON
Four-Power and Chinese General
Agreements Appear to Face Hard
est Battle for Passage

/ Washington, Feb. T. President
Harding will submit to the Senate
not later than Thursday, the treaties
framed by the Conference on the
Limitation of Armament, and the out
look is distinctly favorable for rati-
fcation of the lot.
As things are now, the only treaties
that appear to be in danger at all are
the four-power pact and the Chinese
general treaty. And there is no doubt
whatever that the fight on the four
power pact, started weeks ago, is
weaker because of agreement upon
the naval treaty. nor is there any
doubt that the fight which rumbeS
under ground at present on the
Chinese general treaty will be weak
ened if and when it breaks by the
naval treaty.
Administration leaders in the SEN
ate said this afternoon that they have
not outlined their plan of action, but
that they have no concern about the
outlook. They insist that when the
votes are counted on the four-power
pact. not more than five or six Repub-
licans will be off the reservation. Sen
ator Underwood, they are certain, will
lead enough Democrats to the ratiti
cation side to Offset these losses, and
add enough to bring the vote for rati
fication to the required total Of 64
No trouble appears, the Republicans
say, over any of the other treaties.
Among the insurging Republicans,
it was frankly admitted in private
conversation. that the naval treaty has
strengthened the fines for the four
power pact. Men who, while ago,
thought the latter treaty doomed are
not confident now. And they are even
less confident that they can do much
if they start fighting the Chinese gen
eral treaty. About the same feeling
was found among the Democrats not
ably in the more partisan group, that
would be glad to shoot at anything
that came from a Republican admin
istration if the chances seemed worth
while.
The naval treaty, it is clear, from
what is said in all the Senate groups,
has gone far toward putting the whole
Conference output on solid basis in
the ratification fights. 1t has started
a tide, has created an atmosphere of
accomplishment, that is helpful all
down the line to the Administration.
This may be changed when the debate
begins on the four-power pact and the
Chinese treaty. But it is the indubit-
able fact at this time that the naval
treaty is a success, with tendency to
/ oil IIy11n Ic.
an incredible change in opinion in the
Senate the naval treaty will go
through with many votes to spare.
Unanimity in the vote is not impos-
sible.
Not that there is entire satisfaction.
Men like Senator Borah would have
had the Conference go farther in naval
reductions and limitation
! Mr.. Borah was for abolition of the
submarine, as were the British in the
Conference, and the treaty contains
nothing that limits in any respect sub
marine building or building of other
auXllaries. But Mr.. Borah will not
be against the treaty because it does
not go far enough. He will be enthusi-
astlc over and thankful for what is
/ done.
There also is view in the Senate
1 that conditions still are dangerously
unsettled in the East; that Japan may
be IN war at any time, and that in
such an event she will Immediately
withdraw from the treaty, as she is
entitled to do under those circum-
stances. This fear that the treaty will
not last as long as is expected is NOT
! calculated, however. to cost votes. The
! disposition will be to take what is held
to be good for so long time as is
possible.