The Washington herald., 1922-02-18
Foreign Relations Com
mittee Members at Odds
With President.
DEMOCRATS NOT
HOT FOR FIGHT
Wilson's Reported Ap-
proval Means Only Fee
BILE Opposition Likely.

Senate Foreign Relations Com
mittee members may hitch rserva-
tions on the Pacific treaties despite
President Harding.
The President reiterated his be-
lief yesterday that reservations
neither were required nor justified.
Committee members at the same
time developed sentiment for such
measures.
Word reached Democrats of the
Foreign Relations Committee that
former President Wilson, after a
careful examination of the results
of the armament conference had
come to the conclusion that 1t would
be a grave mistake to oppose the
treaties.
The information was accepted as
authentic by Democratic Senator's,
although there was no formal state
ment from the Wilson residence.
May support Reservations.
Without Mr.. Wilson's assistance
1t was generally conceded that
Democratic resistance to ratifica-
ton would be extremely feeble. The
Democrats probably will content
themselves with supporting reserva-
tions which Republican irreconcil-
ables are expected to offer.
reservations were discussed at
Yesterdays meeting of the For
eign Relations Committee. Senator
Brandegee. of Connecticut, Repub-
lican irreconcilable, suggested three
reservations which he probably will
offer next week. One of these res
ervations would make it clear that
nothing in the four-power pact
binds the United States. either NOR
ally or legally, to employ it's armed
forces unless Congress assents.
Another would make IT clear that
Hll agreements or adjustments en-
tered into under the four-power
pact in the future shall be subject
TO confirmation by the Senate. A
thifd would make It plain that
violation of the terms of the pact
by enc signatory power, would re-
lease other signatories from their
obligations.
President Harding. it is under
stood. said that such rASa---tsops
are unnecessary. Nevertheless, hav.
ing been a reservation,st himself In
the Senate. IL is generally believed
that he would not engage in any
serious quarrel with Senators over
reservations which would not i'm
pair tha fundamental purpose of
the four-power pact. Republican
leaders are confident that he would
not follow the unyielding and un-
compromising course Off Woodrow
Wilson in the Versailles treaty
controversy.
Criticism by johnson.
Senator Johnson. of California.
Republican irreconcilable. criticised
the Notifications agreement, in the
Foreign Relations Committee. He
pointed out that the British were
permitted to fortify Singapore.
while the United States yielded the
right to fortify Guam or the Philip
pine Islands. The result of this
agreement. he contended. would
give the British a stronger foot
hold than ever in the Far East,
while the United States would have
to draw in its frontier to the
Hawaiian Islands. He urged that
the committee ask for the reports
OF the naval experts concerning
Pacific fortifications. Senator Lodge.
chairman of the committee. agreed
that this was a proper request al
though he reminded the committee
that Singapore was not in the Pa
cific. 1t is pr bable that the COM
mittee will obtain the naval ex-
perts' reports next week.
Senator Lodge reported to the
committee that he had conferred
with President Harding concerning
the Hitchcock resolution, adopted
by the Senate. calling for all rec
ords of the conversations in the
negotiation of the four-power pact.
The President, he said, had assured
him of his willingness to furnish
the Senate with every particle of
information and data that would
aid it in thoroughly understanding
the treaties.