New-York tribune., 1922-02-11
Prospects of Ratification
Believed Strengthened
by Frank Address Be-
fore the Upper House
Borah Will Accept
The Naval Compact
McNary, Considered Hos
tile, Says Statement May
End Obligations in W est

From The 7ribuno's yV1sjtinoton R,v.nu
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10.-President
Harding's address before the Senate
to-day in presenting the naval treaty
and the other treaties growing out of
The armament conference made
marked impression on Senators.
Comment following the address also
clearly showed that the general i'm
preston was that the treaties would
be ratified by comfortable ma critics
Even Senator Borah, of Idaho, who
has been tho foremost critic Of
the treaties, especially Of the four
power pact spoke highly of the Presi-
dents address, said he would support
the naval agreement and indicated that
If he found the President was correct
IN saying the agreements meant no
entangline alliance he would line up
for the other treaties lie said:
II have examined the naval treaty
sufficiently to know that am in favor
of it, and if find the Presidents con
struction Of the other treaties is cor
alliance, do not entangle us in foreign
affairs and preserve the traditional
policy of the United States, ! shall sup
port them without delay. If | find
they do not. I shall oppose them to
the utmost OF my ability
Senator Borah added that he did not
intend to ask for hearings on the
treaties before the Foreign Relations
Committees
Presidents Message Commended
In general, Republican Senator'S COM
mendcd the Presidents presentation of
the case for the treaties. Senator Cum
mlns, president pro temporc. summed
up the prevailing view OF Republicans
by saying:
"The address Of the President was
tine. II was rs strong an argument as
| ever heard made. 1t was purely
argumcntative message and was, as it
seemed TO me, unanswerable | have
no doubt Of the ratification of the
treaties"
Senator Wadsworth said: "The adj
dress Of tho President was the best
utterance on the subject have heard.
believe the treaties viii be ratified"
Significance is attached to the in
dorscmcnt given to the speech of the
President by Senator McNary. Of Ore
gon, Republican. Senator McNary has
been disposed to look askancc at the
four power treaty and TO demand q
reservation thereon to exclude the use
of force Senator McNary said:
u thought the message was great
plain that there arc no war commit
ments in Article II of the four power
treaty. which was the only thing stand
ing between me and vote for ratifica
ton. In view of the Presidents con-
structon. believe the objections OF
all tho people on the Pacific Coast to
the fourpower treaty will be re-
moved"
Senator Poindextcr, of Washington,
Republican. who also has raised some
question about the four-power treaty.
it viii do much to bring about the
favorable consideration of the trea-
ties"
Protest References to Leagr~
Democrats, though generally speak
ing we'll of the speech, sounded note
of protest against the references of
the President to the League OF Ma
tions. Talk in some Democratic quar-
ters was that the Presidents express
sions as to the league would result in
making pro-Lcague Democrats give
keener scrutiny to the four-power pact.
Senator Hitchcock, Of Nebraska,
former chairman Of the Foreign Rela
tions Committee, said: 81 don't think
the speech has strengthened any ten
dency that I might have had favorable
to the four-power treaty. My predis-
position is favorable to the other trea
ties The doubts in my mind, as with
other people. relate chiefly to the
four power treaty. | am saying that
cfT-hand without having examined the
other treaties particularly. think
the four-power treaty raises some very
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