Evening star., 1922-02-12
SENATE'SPOS|T|ON
ON ARMS TREATIES
NOW IS FAVORABLE
All Would Pass Practically
Unanimously If Voted
Upon Tomotsow.
FOUR-POWER PACT ONLY
!. ONE FACING CRITICISM
Reservation to Article II Is Pos
sible-Attitude of Democrats
Is Revealed.
BY G, GOULD LINCOLN.

BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.
A canvass Of views of members of
the Senate on the subject of the naval
Limitation and Pacific and far east
treaties emanating from the Washing
ton conference. completed last night, in
dicates: -,
I. If the Senate should vote on the
treaties tomorrow, they would be
ratified without exception, and all ex-
cept the four-power Pacific treaty
practically unanimously. The proba-
bilities are that all of. the treaties
will be ratified whenever they are
voted on.
2. Such opposition as there is to
the treaties today centers about the
four-power pact. and this treaty is
likely to lead to considerable debate.
8. A reservation to article II CT the
four-power pact. somewhat similar to
the reservation adopted by the Sem
ate to article X of the league Of
nations covenant. is likely to be
adopted.
As has been said, the opposition in
the Senate SO far is centering about
the four-power pact. The naval lin
itation treaty is expected to receive
practically the unanimous support of
the Senate. So will the treaty to
curb the use of submarines against
merchant vessels and the use of poi
son gas in war.
Question ON Chinese Tariff.
The treaties with China will be
subject to some opposition, but they
viii be ratified by q large vote, too,
IL IL indicated. There Is some protest
against the treaty fixing the tariff
duties which China may charge. SEN
of those who believe the United
States should not enter into pact
which recognizes the right Of out
side nations to coerce China. in the
matter Of customs dutisns There are
other senator's who 'hole fES saf1e
view, and some Of them who oppose
tho general treaty regarding China
on the ground that, as In the case Of
the tariff, the United States is pre-
pairing to enter a compact to recog-
nize the status quo in China, and
China has been despoiled of much Of
its territory by other nations party
to. the pact. e.,
The Senate foreign relations COM
mittee has just begnn its considers
tion Of the treaties. Contrary to the
expectations of many. 1t began yes
The suggestion has been made that
the Senate should be asked to ratify
first the treaties to which there is
little, If any, opposition-that in this
way the Senate would become accus-
toned to accepting the work Of the
conference as written, which would
smooth the way for the. four-power
pact.
Strategy in Plan.
But it has appeared wise to some
of the republican leaders to deal with
the four-power pact first-the treaty
to which there is greatest opposition.
They fear that, with the naval limi-
tation treaty and other unopposed
treaties out of the way, the oppo-
nents of the four-power pact might
settle down for long siege that hli-
bustering tactics might delay that
treaty very considerably. On the other
hand, with the naval limitation
treaty.. particularly desired by the
people as a peace measure, as well as
q measure of economy, waiting action,
the four-power treaty may move
faster through the Senate.
There Is no doubt but what the
treaties are interrelated; they repre-
sent the completed work Of the con-
ference, and the supporters Of the
pacts insist it is necessary to ratify
them all.
No further meeting of the foreign
relations committee is to be. held un-
til Thursday morning, owing to the
absence from Washington of Senator
Lodge. chairman of the committee.
The expectation Is that when the
committee meets it will resume con-
sideration Of the four-power treaty.
In addition to the committee con-
alteration of the treaties, it is ex-
pected that party conferences will be
held by both the republicans and the
democrats before the treaties are dis
cussed on the floor Of the Senate. At
these conferences the respective lead
ers, Senator Lodge and Underwood,
both members of the American DEL
egation. will exjlain the provisions
of the pacts and why they were me-
gotiated.
At present the answer obtained
generally from democratic senators
. as to whether they will support the
treaties is: II am favorable to the
naval Limitation treaty and the others,
except perhaps the four-power pact
That treaty must examine carefully
before deciding what to do"
But from democratic sources the as
surance came last night that the four
power pact would be ratified with
few democratic votes cast against 1t
after it has been debated at some
length. -
The ranks of the old "irreconcila-
bles," the senator's who voted through
thick and thin against the league Of
nations covenant, with or without
reservations, has dwindled somewhat
through failure Of reelection, or