Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-02-21
FOES CRITICIZE
HARDING REPLY
ON THE TREATY
Both Sides Voice Displea-
sure at Attitude on
Pacific Question
WAIT FOR HUGHES
Agreement on Island of Zap Favor
ably Reported by Vote of Ten to
One.

Washington, Feb. 21.-Republican
and Democratic opponents of the Pa
cific Four Power Treaty voiced their
disp!easure when President Harding
informed the Senate yesterday that he
could not comply with the request
made for additional! records covering
the negotiations of that pact.
President Harding said it was ''lit-
orally impossible" for him to send the
requested records because no such rec
ords ever existed and because he con.
sidered it incompatible with the pub
lie interest to reveal ''informal and
I confidential conversation.
When Secretary Hughes returns
! from Bermuda it is the purpose of the
Senate Committee to quiz HIM regard
, ing these secret sessions.
1 Mr.. Harding's reply to the Four
( Power treaty resolution, which has
been introduced by Senator Hitchcock,
of Nebraska, senior Democratic men,
her Of he committee. follows:
I Responsive 10 Senate Resolutions
No. 237, asking for records, minutes,
arguments, debates. conversations,
ETC., relating to the So-called Four
I Power treaty, have to advise that it
is impossible to comply with the Sen
atcs request Many OF the things
asked for in the resolution it is liter
ally Impossible to furnish because
! there were many conversations and
! discussions quite outside the Confer
tenae, yet vital~to its success. Natn-
rally these are without record.
i ] do not believe it to be compatible
with public interests or consistent
with the amenities OF international
negotiations to attempt to reveal IN
I formal and confidential conversations
! or discussions Of which no record was
kept or 10 submit tentative sugges-
! tions or informal proposals without
which the arrival at desirable inter-
national understanding would be
rendered unlikely if not impossible.
While am unable to transmit the
information requested. ! do, however,
] take this opportunity 10 say most
amphatically that there were no con-
cealcd understandings and no secret
exchanges of notes, and there are no
commitments whatever, except as ap-
/ pear in the Four Power treaty itself
and the supplementary agreement,
which are now in the hands Of the
Senate.
Before leaving for Omaha last,
night Senator Hitchcock said he did
not think the Foreign Relations Com
mittee would act on the Pacific treaty
until Secretary Hughes has been
heard He declared "absoIutely nee
ccssary" the appearance Of Mr..
/ Hughes to tell what he knew Of the
conversations which took place at un-
recorded meetings Of the big Four"
By vote of 10 to |, Senator Pitt
man. Democrat, Nevada, opposing, the
committee reported favorably the
treaty ending the controversy between
the United States and Japan over the
! Island Of Yap. Senator Lodge said he
would ask for immediate consIdera-
ton in the Senate and debate may be-
Gin today or tomorrow.
/ Committee debate on the zap treaty
! Is said to have centcrcd aDout the pos
! siblc legal effect Of recognition OF the
japanese mandate over the island and
! the likelihood that any question ar!s-
/ Ing under the treaty in the future
would have to be referred to the four
great powers under the F0ur-Power
| arrangement in the Pacific
1t was said that several Of those
who voted for favorable report had
not vet made up their minds whether
they would vote for ratification.
Senator Johnson Of California. IN n
formal statement. said it was re-
markable and unfortunate that the
President was unable to give any fur
thcr information relative to the Four
! Power agreement. He observed that
! the communiques of the Conference
had covered much less important
matters. Zone might read he said,
"that Mr.. So and So advised the COM
mittec and had the honor to say 81 and
50. or that Mr.. Blank made report, bur
not word about the Four-Power
treaty.
The information regarding the max
ing of the "quadruple Alliance ;hat SN
Ipcrscdes the Angl0-Japanc>e As!l-
ance." said Senator Johnson. rs nee
cssary that the Senate may act in'el-
lgent!y on the treaty. 1t Is most ur,
fortunate that it is not Forthcoming.
The Senate, said Senator Johnson
had nothing before it except the bare
treaty "ard the brilliant prose poem
OF Senator Lodge and the general re-
port of the head of the American DEL
egation. Open and simple diplomacy
has given US everything dealt with Dy
the Conference except the ail-lm-
portant Four-Power treaty.