The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1922-02-24

NerSoildi NftWiJlhi. -AbI AHc~c NlucElhS
conceptions may rise-to trouble America
long after we of tie- present generation
are dead.
Suppose, For Instance, -
Suppose, for instance, that 10 or Il
years hence. Russia has been restored
and encraachcS on the northern half OF
Sakhalin. now claimed by japan. What
does Japan dor She calls a conference
| of powers under the terms of the four
power treaty. The preamble of the
treaty says its purpose il to maintain
| the rights uf Great Britain. France.
Italy and the United States in relation
ions. Ii says in relation. which. OF
course is broad enough to cover sucn an
aggression as Russia might start toward
| Sakhalin Island. Now, Japan's rights
| in that island are matter of dispute
today Yet article two of the four
power treaty requires conference of
powers whenever aggression by an out
| side power develops over said rights.
! II docSu't define what said rights may
| be and if We do not now say that we
| nave the right to determine for ourselves
/ whether those rights are valid or in
valid. we may be in the position of haE-
| ing acquieSced in them.
| but when conference is called. it
| is obvious from. the Language ~ot this
treaty that the purpose OF the conference
| is to arrive mt an understanding or an
adjustments INTELLECTUALLY happcnsE
4 delegate or, ambassador represents the
United States sitI that Conference. An
agreement rs reached. Since SakhaliH
is an island. the emily means Of protect
ing il Is by navy or by economic boycatt
Of the offending power Now al may dc
| vclop that the public sentiment of
| America is against war with Russia or
| that we of this country do not believe
Japan has right to the island in qUes-
| tiOu. What ! want 10 prevent IL some
| American president getting mp and say
ling that an agreement has been reached
under the terms, ola treaty ratified by
| the United States senate whereby a con-
| ference of powers determines the most
efficient means Of maintaining the rights
covered by the treaty. With the i'm
| mcnSr powers which tho executive has
Of ordering warships To any quarter of
| the globe-and sailing orders are usually
and properly Sccret-Wc may wake up
and find ourselves on the threshold of
war without a voice as to whether We
want To commit ourselves to war II IS
said that alt this is understood in the
| language Of the treaty. But we who re-
| linqush and are familiar with our own
| constitutional system may be in agree
ment about it but ! want everybody in
Japan and Russia and elsewhere in the
lworld to understand that congress has
| absolute freedom of action and that the
| ratification of tins treaty dO1Sn put
upon us any moral or legal obligation as
to what we shall do in the future when
confronted with the question of MAIN
! tanning anybody's rights in the Pacific"
Thinks Harding Is Safe.
Mr.. BranGcgce believes President
Harding himself holds the same view
about the rights and powers of congress
and probably feels that the reservations
are unnecessary because he himself
| would surely consult congress and would
| n advance of making any serious move,
| find out whether congress approved
| But with the ever-growing power Of the
executive. men like Senator Brandegee
/ believe it would remove at once any
| loubtS in the minds of foreign govern
| ncntS if into the four-power treaty were
| written a specific reservation showing
| that congress is the final authority when
| ANYTHING involving the use of force is
| contemplated European governments
| have their own quick remedy. When
| heir prime minister or foreign secretary
| II the midst Of negotiation does some
| hing which the people do not like over
| light. minister can be overturned. Re
| emily Premier BRAND was forced out