Evening journal., 1922-02-11
WASHINGTON.

WASHINGTON. Feb. 1.-THE
treaties negotiated during the Wash
ington Conference were laid before
the Senate by President Harding
yesterday with a request that they be
ratified as guarantees Of peace.
Appearing in person before the
Senate. the President declared that
the new agreements would serve
to put an end to contradictions. re-
move antiquities and establish
clear understanding"
Seven treaties were submitted by
the President. The first was the
fve-power- r-naval-armamen treaty,
the second. the submarine and poi
son gas treaty; the third. the four
Power-Pacihc treaty; the fourth and
fifth. supplemental treaties TO the
/ four-Power pact. and the other re-
lated respectively 10 the general Far
Eastern situation and TO the Chinese
I staff.
These engagements, the Presi-
| dent said. were interviewer in a
general scheme OF peace. and con-
! tained nothing which commits the
United States or any other power to
any kind of an alliance, entangle-
ment or invr ivemeni
Referring to the unratiied treaty
OF Versailles, Mr.. Harding said IL
was drawn in response Ito a mani
| fest world hunger" for better rela-
/ tionships, and that the treaties sub
mitted today were drawn in response
( 10 the same desire. but without any
provision except Ito promote peace"
The four-power treaty contains
no war commitment" said the Presi-
dent There is no commitment to
armed force. no alliance, no written
or moral obligation to join in de-
I fense. no expressed or implied COM
mitment 20 arrive at any agreement
except in accordance with our con-
stitutional methods"
Reviewing briefly the situation in
the Far East. the President said the
conference by its Far Eastern agree
ment had dissipated" all appre-
hension OF territory greed in that
quarter. and that Senate ratification
of the Far Eastern treaties "will
stabilize a peace for the breaking
Of which there is not a shadow Of
reason or real excuse"
The fve-Power naval treaty. he
continued, was in accordance with
the expressed wish OF Congress as
contained in recent legislation and
would afford the first actual relief
from naval burden which peoples
have been able to acclaim since
steam and steel combined to add to
naval strength in warfare"
Either these treaties must have
your cordial sanction" he said. "or
every proclaimed desire to promote
peace and prevent war becomes a
d hollow mockery."
Abiding TO the Senate's traditional
aversion against entangling foreign
b commitments. Mr. Harding declared
r ne had that in mind when he ar
ranged that both Democrats and Re
b publicans should be members OF the
/ American delegation.
THE Senate's concern for free
Z dom from entanglements." he con-
tinued. "for preserved traditions, for
p maintained independence, was never
once forgotten by the American dele
, gates. II 1 did not believe these
treaties brought US not only new
guarantees but greater assurances OF
freedom from conflict, 1 would not
submit them to your consideration d
Much depends on your decision,
he continued. I'VE have Joined IL
2 giving to the world the spectacl,
Of nations gathered about the con.
. ference table. amid the conviction,
OF peace, free from all passion, tC
. face each other in the contacts OF
I reason, to solve menacing problems
=, and end disputes, and clear up mis-
=. Understandings. II to these under
=. standings for peace. il to these ad.
. vanced expressions OF the conscienc,
OF leading powers, IL TO these con,
cords to guard against conflict and
LIT the burden Of armament IL 1,
all OF these the Senate will not ad
y wise and consent then it will be futil,
F; to try again"
; Along with the treaties the Presi
dent submitted to the Senate tn
;. complete minutes Of plenary ses
8 sions and committee meetings o
! the conference. together with a cop.
Of ths official report made to hin