Paragould soliphone. (Paragould, Ark.) 1918-1950, 1922-03-13
SEN. ROBINSON
SEVERELY RAPS
4--POWER PACT
Arkansan Declares Instru-
ment Was Misrepresented
Public and Newspapers
Misled.

WdSHlnS ION, MdICu Ill lSbSlDS
their attack on the manner in which
the four-power Pacific treaty was
negotiated, the treaty's opponents
declared on the Senate floor yester-
day that the American delegation
to the arms conference not only con-
cealed knowledge of the negotiations
from the public, but was RESPONSE
BILE for the dissemination of mislead-
ing reports concerning them.
At the time when announcement
Of the treaty's conclusion was immi-
nent, Secretary Hughes, it was de-
faaHeaa Ell t6f Robinson,
crat of Arkansas, told newspaper
correspondents that he had no
knowledge of any such project As
q result, Senator Robinson declared,
the press not only was inaccurately
informed, but correspondents as
signed to the conference suffered
professionally because they placed
reliance ON what Mr.. Hughes told
them.
That the secretary of state had
made such denials was characterized
by Senator Lodge, Republican of
Massachusetts, another member of
the American delegation, ''as in
conceivable.' Mr.. Lodge said he
had discussed the project for a
Pacific concord with Mr.. Hughes
before the conference began.
Truce Agreed Upon.
Senator Robinson's charge was
made during brief furry of de-
bate just before the treaty was
laid aside for the day to give right
of way to a judiciary bill. At first
the administration leaders had OPP
posed interruption of the treaty dis
cussion to take up the bill, but SO
many senators asked for more time
to prepare their speeches that a
truce was agreed to. Senator Lodge
announced, however, that today he
would insist that the Senate reach
a vote on the first of the proposed
reservations.
The Democratic leaders, Senator
Underwood of Alabama, also a mem
Der of the arms delegation, will
make prepared address for the
treaty as soon as today's session be-
gins. Several of the "irreconcila-
bles" opposing the treaty have been
waiting to hear Mr.. Underwood S
speech before preparing their own.
The first reply is expected to be
made Monday by Senator Johnson,
Republican of California.
In renewing his charge that the
treaty was negotiated secretly, Sen
ator Robinson declared that not only
at the time of the conference, but
up to the present, Mr.. Hughes had
refused to tell all he knew about
the treaty. He read from a pub
lished article quoting a "high Off
cial" of the State Department as
saying:
Quotes Mr.. Hughes.
-Four delegations signed the
treaty, therefore it can truthfully
be said they all wrote it, Who
wrote it does not matter. What is
in it does matter"
That" said Senator Robinson,
sounds like Mr.. Hughes. The sec
retary of state declines to furnish
the public even now any informa-
rtion as to the origin of this treaty
He says, substantially, that it is
inobody's business who wrote it..
Mr.. Hughes made an announcement
shortly before the senator from Mas
sachusetts reported the treaty to
the conference that no such project
was in contemplation, so far as he
knew A number of newspaper cor
respondents who relied upon the ac-
curacy of that announcement suffer
ed severe criticism from their en-
ployers because ~of the inaccuracy
of their information.
Senator Robinson said the four
power treaty was one of the few
subjects not discussed at any length
in public sessions of the conference,
but was brought forward only after
| it had been agreed to, and was
placed before the world at a plenary
sitting with the apparent purpose of
making a dramatic display. Mr..
Lodge, he said, in presenting the
treaty made a beautiful Speech
/ the only shortcoming of which was
"that it was totally lacking in in
formation about the subject discuss
ed"
Describing the other so-called pie
nary or public session of the con
ference, Mr. Robinson mimicked
amid laughter, the manner in which
he said Secretary Hughes repeated
stated decisions reached privately;