The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-03-11
NO GROUNDS
FOR DOUBTS
OVER DRAFT
Secretary of State Warns
Against Possible Conse-
quences of Action.

Washington, March 11.-Secre-
tary of State Hughes, in a letter
today to Senator Underwood. Dem
ocratic senate leader and arms
conference delegate, took occasion
to characterize intimations that the
American delegates were induced
to accept some plans for the four
power Pacific treaty cunningly con-
trived by others opposed to Amer
lean interests as "a very poor and
erroneous conception Of the work
in connection with the conference" ."
The secretary added that the
amenities of international inter
course precluded revealing the in
formal and confidential sugges-
tions and conversations incident to
the negotiations, but he assured
the senator that full disclosure Of
everything said or done would re
veal nothing derogatory to the part
taken by the American delegates.
He asserted he would not consider
acceptance of any position not en-
tirely consistent with the tradi-
tionaI policies of the American
government.
The four-power pact itself rev
quires no commentary, the secre-
tary said. adding that no ingenuity
in argument or hostile criticism
can add to it OF make its engage
ments greater than Its unequivO-
| cal language sets forth" There
nF nnHnPuf1nn- II
ings, he asserted.
Discussing the genesis OF the
| treaty, which has been the subject
of questions in the senate from its
opponents, Hughes said that
while the question of authors is
unimportant," after assent had been
given by Great Britain and Japan
| that France should be a party, he
| himself prepared a draft of the
treaty based upon the various sug-
gestions which had been exchang-
ed between the delegates"
There is not the slightest mys-
terv about the treaty or basis OF
suspicion regarding it, the secre-
tary asserted SIT is a straightfor-
ward document, which attains one
of the most important objects the
American government has had in
view and is of the highest impor-
tance to the maintenance of friend
ly relations in the far east upon
sound basis"
Failure of the senate to ratify
the treaty, Mr.. Hughes deSared,
would be nothing short Of a ma
Underwood for Treaty.
tional calamity"
Washington, March 11.-Describ-
fng the four-power pact treaty as
1.-The real treaty of peace" of the
arms conference, Senator Under
wood of Alabama, the Democratic
senate leader and a member Of the
American delegation to the confer
ence, told the senate today that he
would vote for the pact's ratification
in the same spirit which actuated
him to support the treaty Of Yer
sailles and the League of Nations.
The real issue, he declared, was
whether the United States was
ready to give its sanction to an ar
rangement for peace by mutual
I understanding, or desired to con
tinue 'the opportunity for war that
has threatened US in the last two
lSCd0SS-
Mr.. Underwood asserted that he
did not regard the treaty as an al
lance, but added that even If it
were, and were founded on arbitra
ton rather than force, he would
support it.
The four-power treaty" he con
tinUed, represents a political
settlement which undoubtedly was
necessary before the treaty prOVid-
ing for the limitation of armaments
was signed; that is. if the agree
ment to limit armaments was in
/ tended to mean more than mere
saving of money.
/ "The terms of the treaty clearly
call for a conference TO consider
difficulties that may arise. It is
I conference in which all the four
fCoptjuuad ou para Five