South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-03-13
THE FUTILE QUESTION

Who wrote the four-rower treaty? The senate
wishes to know.
Without directly saying so, the distinguished
Americans who participated i'm the Wash
nston conference eve the impression that it is the
work of the able Secy of state Hughes
Some of the senator's insist that it written
by tine Japanese premier and It IS certain that in
Japan the influential citizens being told that
their leader is the author.
IT is now openly charged that it is the work Of
SIR. Balfour that member of the House OF Cecil,
whose members from the DAYS of queen Elizabeth
to the present have always outtraded the other
nations iu the secret gatherings of diplomacy and
have made Britain great through their power of
intensive intrigue. All that is really is tina.
it did not come from France
The senate viii set no answer to it's query. but
that should not be matter of very large concern.
for I'm the last analysis the of the treaty lie
in is written terms and in the purposes and aims
behind il.
Into those aims The senate. if not interested
before. should probe deerIy now since sec'y
Hughes most inadvertently points out to them the
atmosphere i'm which This treaty was born treaty
10y the way. which replaces the solemn pact be-
tween Japan and Britain to dsht offensive and de
feEsive wars and which may be fairly presumed
TO simply increase the membership in this warlike
pact
Mr. Hughes. writing TO senator Underwood the
democratic member of the conference makes this
significant statement:
while I cannot Of course. undertake TO
state what proposed suggested in
fdcncc by any of the delegates, I think il en-
trcIy proper TO say the negotiations relating to
the Horsepower treaty were conducted within
limitations defined by the American govern
Ii had been clearly stated that this gov
crnmcnt could enter into no alliance or make
commitment the of the arms which
would impose any sort of obligation TO its
decisions I'm future contingencies"
Thus does the tradition of rast autocracy stife
the spirit of democracy
Treaties in the early days were no more nor less
than bargains between kings and emporers. For
that reason they were drafted in the dark. were
hidden and kept from the subjects who could be
ordered the morrow to go out and give their
lives i'm defense OF their mouarchs
Theirs question why.
Theirs but 40 do and die
Tire treaties between nations were the written
agreements OF The ruling houses between them
selves as 20 how much territory they would gov
ern. how big armies they would keep. how far they
would stand toEerher against the ambitions OF
Others and how far they would combine TO keep
their crowns upon their heads.
From that dark aee when kings not peoples.
SEMI the-r shrewd lawyers their Cecils and their
BsmarcAs and their Tallyrands to make bargains.
comes the precedent thar their dealings be kept
secret and unknown TO- subjects"
Monarchy took no chances Of letting the men
who might be called upon 20 fight tomorrow know
much OF the business OF kingcraft
Monarchy always tyrann.caI and always intent
on saving JOS, crown had need OF darkness and so
the tradition spruns up that those who met TO draw
treaties ana secret bargains should keep silent