The Washington herald., 1922-03-26
Legality of Ratification of
Four-Power Treaty
Questioned.
FURTHER DELAYS
ARE FEARED NOW
Move to Reconsider Vote
Hinted-LOdge Quits
Chamber in Anger.

Ratification of the arms confer
ence treaties by the Senate was
threatened with serious delay by
a new fight launched yesterday by
some Democratic opponents
They not only called in question
the legality of the ratification Fri
day of the four-power Pacific pact,
and intimated that it would be
tested in the courts, but threatened
ion of the vote.
This would prOlong debate, post
poning ratification of the naval
and Chinese treaties far beyond
the time when administration lead
ers had hoped to have them dis
posed of.
Trouble Over Reservation.
The trouble arose over the reser-
walton or declaration written by
Secretary Hughes and signed by
representatives of all parties to
the foUr-power pact. This declara-
tion, which Secretary Hughes in
sisted on as a prerequisite to
American participation in the four
power pact, stated that the United
States signed the four-power
treaty with the understanding that
il did not disturb American rights
in the inundated islands in the
Pacific, and that under it no pure
ly domestic questions could be con-
sidered. This second provision was
put in as a protection to Califor-
mia, which objects to Japanese i'm
migration, and does not want that
question laid before any interna-
tional tribunal or conference.
The declaration was sent to the
Senate along with the treaty by
President Harding but was not
ratified Friday. The Democrats
called attention to it near the
close Of the voting, but were ruled
out of order.
Yesterday Senators Hitchcock
and Pittman. with Robinson sup
porting them, raised the point that
unless the declaration was ratified
by the Senate and by the other gov
ernments. 1t was not binding.
Therefore, Hitchcock said, the
treaty contained no provision in
cluding domestic questions or pro-
teCting American rights in the man.
dated islands.
Lodge Leaves I'm Anger.
Senator Lodge said this was all
a mistake. and that the declaration
stood outside the treaty as a state
ment interpreting what was in the
treaty. He offered to let the Sem
ate ratify 1t and at once began
preparing a resolution of ratifca-
tion covering it.
Hitchcock then said II was too
late to make the declaration part of
the treaty and that IL it were rati-
fed separately Japan might refuse
to ratify it, thereby leaving the
United states without recourse on
the two items covered by the declar-
alton. The debate grew so heated
that Lodge at one point left the
senate Chamber in anger, and at
another time told Hitchcock not 10
shout
Hitchcock contended that If the
question were tested in the courts.
il would be held that the Senate
had not legally ratified the four
power pact because Lodge had re-
fused to permit inclusion of the
declaration. Swanson, Virginia,
suggested that the ratifying vote
be reconsidered and the whole mat
ter reopened for debate.
No progress was made towards
ratifying the supplementary treaty
excluding the homeland of Japan
fOm the four-power pact. Robin
son offered an amendment to ex-
clude Sakhalin Island, held by
Japan. So that if Japan and Russia
go to war over tho island. the
United States would not be in
yolyed.