Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-03-11
Determined TO Support Pact.


past two decades"
Determined TO Support Pact. g.
Mr.. Underwood asserted that he
did not regard the treaty as an alli-
ance but added that even if it were.
and were founded on arbitration
rather than force. he would support
it. To argue, on the other hand. that
because it was not based on force It
was valueless was declared by the
Alabama senator to be reverting TO
the philosophy of past ages.
Recounting how he had supported
the League Of Nations he said he had
approached the work Of the arms
conference to welcome any new effort
to establish peace by international
understanding rather than by the
power Of the sword.
Represents Settlement.
"The four-power treaty" he con-
tinued, represents a political settle
ment which undoubtedly was necea-
sary before the treaty providing for
the limitation Of arnsaments was
signed; that is if the agreement to
limit armament was intended to
mean more than mere saving OF
money to the nations who had en-
gagged in the wild race Of building
battleships.
The terms of the treaty clearly
call for a conference to consider dif-
ficulties that may arise. just as, tho
conference on the limitation of arma-
ments was called in Washington some
months ago. 1t is conferences in
which all the four powers must agree
and none Of the powers will be
bound In advance in any way. In
other words the agreements that are
reached must be by unanimous con-
sent.
THE opponents Of the ratification
OF this treaty in the main appear to
base their objections on two grounds.
, expressing positions that are opposed
one to the other. 1t is asserted that
the treaty in effect is an alliance be-
tween the four >powcrs for offensiya
is contended we will be drawn into
that position in the, end and that we
may be forced into war without our
consent. l maintain that there is
nothing in the treaty itself that justi-
f1es such an Interpretation being
placed upon it: that an agreement by
man or by nation to respect tho
rights of his neighbours is an obIiga-
ton that relates to his own conduct
and does not bid him to aggressive
action because the other party to the
t contract, whose rights he has agreed
to respect, becomes envolycd in dif-
iculties.
| Secs Acceptance OF Reservation
But the question is not left here
The foreign relations committee has
moved a reservation to the treaty,
/ which beyond doubt will be accept
! ed by the senate which reads as fol-
lows:
The United States understands
that under the statement in the. pre-
amble. or under the terms Of this
treaty. there is no commitment to
} armed force. no alliance, no obliga-
tlon to join in any Defense
When the treaty is ratified with
government. what ground is left to
those who contend the treaty is an
ofense and defensive alliance to
stand upon? None that can see.
"On the other. it is asserted that,
as the treaty does not bind the high
contracting parties to use force in
carrying out its terms. and because
they cannot in the future be bound TO
any action until their free consent Is
first obtained. that it means nothing;
that it is worse than useless to sign
it. and therefore it should be defeat
ed. To my mind. this argument is tho
last stand of the men OF the old
school. the school OF thought that has
been dominant in the government OF
this world for the last four thousand
years: the philosophy that believes
erned only by force and that agree
ments. to be binding, must have the
power Of force behind them. If this
were true it would destroy all the
faith of the Christian nations Of the
world in their efforts to obtain peace
by mutual understanding.
Not An Alliance.
You may call the Versailles treaty
an alliance. I voted for it because I
believed it was a sincere effort to SC
cure the peace Of the world by mu-
tual understanding. The present
treaty is not an alliance. but IL it were
an alliance intended to keep the
peace through arbitration rather than
through force I should support it.
The dangers of past alliances have
not been due to the fact that they
were binding agreements between
the powers that signed them but be-
cause they contemplated the use OF
force for the benefit of the sisnatory
powers. An alliance based on right
and justice between nations. intended
to aid in securing the peace of the
world. would not be. offensive to me.
The first step in any effort to keep
the peace among nations must be
| based upon mutual. agreement &c
respect the rights Of others. The
four power pact does that
IF the senate OF the United States
ratifies this pending treaty. an,
/ fully satisfied that there will dieap-
| Nrlx Hx,,,