Evening star., 1922-02-27
COMMITTEE ENDS
| STUDY OF TREATIES
Far Eastern and Chinese
Tariff Pacts Ordered
Reported to Senate.

Committee consideration of the arms
conference treaties was completed to-
day when the Senate foreign rela-
ported. without reservations. the gen.
eral far eastern and Chinese tariff
treaties. In both cases the action was
unanimous.
The committee acted virtually with
out discussion after a statement re-
garding the proposed Chinese customs
revision had been made by Senator
Underwood of Alabama. the democratic
leader and head Of the special arms
conference committee which drafted
the tariff pact.
Report on All Recent Treaties.
AS a result a general report en-
bodying the committees recommenda-
tions regarding the four-power Pacific
treaty, the naval Limitation treaty, the
submarine and poison gas treaty and
the two treaties favorably acted on
today was prepared for submission to
the Senate so that it could begin de-
bate on the pacts as soon as a ratifi-
cation vote is reached in the separate
treaty relating to Yap. The leaders
hoped to conclude the Yap debate dur
ing today's session and to bring up
the four-power pact tomorrow.
Forecast Of Ratification Vote.
White House callers who have talk
ed with President Harding on the
four-power Pacific treaty situation
oipod tho ;p,praSsiop fodor fbo< NJ
Harding. having assented to the pend
ing reservation to the pact, intends
to take no further hand in the mat
ter of ratification.
The President was represented by
callers to believe that while,no reser-
vations to the four-power treaty are
necessary. the one reported favorably
by the Senate foreign relations COM
mittee is agreeable to him in the
the sake of party harmony.
Some Senate republican leaders,
while describing the treaty situation
in the Senate itself as still somewhat
nebulous, believe that the four-power
pact will be ratified with not more
than six republicans voting against
it. These leaders said today that at
least fourteen democrats are counted
on to vote for the treaty, with the pos
sibility that there will be more when
the final roll is called.
Senator Watson. republican. In
day and talked over the treaty situ.
alton with the President. but declined
to say anything about the details OF
the conference.
:. Proposes Amendment.
While debate on the Yap treaty
was proceeding on the Senate floor
today. the first proposed reservations
to the four-power pact to come from
outside the foreign relations COM
mittee were made public by Senator
Robinson, democrat. Arkansas, with
the announcement that he would
formally present them at the first op-
portVnity.
One, of the two qualifications sug.
gested by the Arkansas senator would
provide that all powers claiming an
interest" in any controversy arising
in the Pacific should be admitted by
the signatory nations to the resulting
Conference" The second would de-
clare that 'the United States under
stands that each of The high contract
into any secret treaty, agreement o.
understanding with any other power
or powers during the life of this
treaty"
Underwood Opens Discussion.
Today's discussion Of tie Yap pact
was opened by Senator Underwood
who favored ratification, but declared
he disagreed with the premise or
which the treaty was negotiated.
j., The United States. he declared. really
never acquired the undivided one
fifth sovereignty" over Yap as claim.
ed by the State Department, and
therefore was~not surrenderine tina,
right under the present settlement
He took the position that when Ger.
many renounced her overseas posses.
siols to the five principal allied pow
ers, she gave those. powers nothing
more than q "joint trustesship'' with
which the Zap settlement is in haf.
mony.
Senator Robinson and Senator Pitt.
man, democrat. Nevada, took issue
with that position.