The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1922-03-16
Thursday. March 16, 1922.
THE FoUR-PoWER TREATY AND
ITS OBLIGATIONS.

The four power treaty which is nov
being forced through the senate in.
wolves the same principle and imposes
practically the same obligations upor
the signatory powers as the league Of
nations. which the republican senate
rejected and which was repudiated by
an overwhelming vote of the people OF
this country 1t is in fact a realiza-
ton Of what many people feared would
be the outcome of the disarmament
conference. but who remained silent
for fear that giving expression to their
evil forebodings might be construed as
manifestation of hostility to the pur-
pose for which the conference was
called. From the standpoint of char
aeter, ability, eminence and experience
the men selected by President Harding
to represent the United States in the
disarmament conference could hardly
have been equalled and certainly not
excelled; but down deep in the hearts
of many citizens there was an unex-
pressed fear that these distinguished
representatives of the United States in
the conference every one of whom was
in favor of the league of nations in it's
original form or with reservations
would commit this country TO an
agreement that would trench closely
upon the most Objectionable features
OF the league of nations covenant That
this fear was fully justified is now
proved by the terms of the four power
treaty covering the insular possess
sions in the Pacific of the United
States, Great Britain France and Jap
an. Presented as measure for the
of war, its ratification by
the senate would place this country
in a position almost Identical with that.
we would have occupied under the COW
snant of the league of nations; not /
bound to use force or de-
,lare war. but obligated to do so
through every consideration of honor
md good faith in the event that the
lights of any of the signatory powers
vas invaded. The treaty is in fact an
lliance, and has all the elements to
nakeit most changing one in spite
f the protests of those who are re- /
onsible for it.
The work of the disarmament con- {
srence is ably discussed by Samuel w
IcCall, ex-governor of Massachusetts,,
nd for many years representative
congress from that state. He finds
iuch to commend in the agreement
n the limitation of armament. but
,grets that the complete abolition of
lie submarine could not have been =,
icluded, as well as other horrible i.
struments of warfare. Mr. McCaTs
scussion of the four-power treaty.
hich is now before the senate. is
pecially clear able and convincing. !,
n this subject he says: -,
THE sum of the positive achieve -,
ent for peace in the Far East is to -.
seen in the four-power treaty, sup
emented by other treaties. OF the ca
ur-power treaty which was put for of
ard with such confidence as safe &C
arding the peace of the Pacific and a
J lovely islands. it may be said that
possesses the merit of brevity If not ~
clarity. Excepting the formal parts pi
lich might belong to any treaty for tn
Y purpose whatsoever it contains dc
rely two hundred words And yet 81
thin that brief compass there has al
ady developed an important differ vi
ce of construction which is calling tic
r a redrafting of the treaty The FL
reement that the powers shall re- W,
ect the rights of each other in their
;ular dominions and possessions in
2 regions of the Pacific is something Vi
At they are already bound to do I'M pr
r the primary principles of inter er,
tional morality. In case of a con- ~,
'versy regarding their rights-which -,
not likely unless there is deliberate ''N
are to hold a confer an
re to adjust it. In case of a disa- phi
cement at such a conference no Or,
thod is provided for a settlement. do,
But the most important article
,vides that, if any of the rights OF ING
iparties are threatened by the ag- wa
sssive action of any other power. she