Evening star., 1922-03-30
|SENATE TAKESUP
TREATY ON CHINA
Magma charta and Customs
Treaty Alone Remain for
Approval.

The Senate today began considera-
tion Of the nine-power Chinese treaty,
under which the nations agree to re-
form to the open door" policy" This
treaty has been called magma charta
for China. This. and the Chinese
customs treaty, only remain of the
Washington. conference treaties to be
acted upon by the Senate.
Senator Underwood Of Alabama,
democratic leader. q member OF the
American delegation to the Wash
ington conference. discussed the Chi
nese treaty in considerable detail,
replying to questions raised by Sen
ator Walsh of Montana. who sug-
gested that in some respects the
pending treaty did not go beyond ex-
isting international law in the pro-
lection of China's rights. Senator
Underwood praised the treaty ana
declared that while there WAS no OBJ
legation to use force to enforce the
treaty. there was a strong moral
obligation and that any nation which
in the future violated the rights of
China would be looked upon as an
outlaw.
The Senate leaders hope to conclude
consideration of the Chinese treaties
by the end of the week.
Two Treaties Ratified.
The two arms conference treaties
limiting the navies of the great pow
ers and restricting the use of subma-
rines and poison gas were ratified in
landslide of appreciation yesterday
afternoon by the Senate.
To the naval limitation covenant,
declaring a naval building holiday
and fixing ratio of capital ship
strength for the United States. Great
Britain. Japan, France and Italy, the
Senate gave its final assent by a vote
of "a to /. and then almost without
debate it accepted, II to o. the pact de-
signed to prevent submarine opera
tions against merchantmen and to
outlaw chemical warfare altogether.
No amendments or reservations were
proposed to either.
A speech assailing the poison gas
articles of the submarine and gas
treaty was made on the Senate floor
by Senator Wadsworth, republican,
New York, chairman of the military
committee. but before the ratification
rollcall he left the chamber and did
agreed with the statement in the
treaty text that use OF gas in war
fare had been Justly condemned by
the general opinion of the civilized
world" argued that chemical war
fare had not proved actually more
of destruction, and expressed a fear
! that the treaty pledges would be vic.
lated in any emergency.
Believes Gas More Humane.
War is cruelty. organized" Senator
Wadsworth proceeded. (which is
| more cruel, the high explosive tina,
tears off a mans limb and blinds
/ him and mutilates him. or gas
! wound. which mutilates not at all
/ and from which, medical records
! show. the soldier may. in the over.
whelming number of cases invariably
| recover?"
Senator Hitchcock. democrat. Ne.
braska. suggested that chemical war.
; fare was in its infancy and might
| become more terrific. Senator Wads.
worth said the same progress wa.
ator Borah agreed with Senator
! Wadsworth that in an emergency tbs
i anti-gas clause would become a deat
/ letter" and added that the prohibi.
| tion Of summarizing merchant shipi
I would meet like fate when a ma.
| tion should observe such ships feed.
| ing an enemy.
| Senator Walsh. democrat, Montana
I called attention to reports that the
British government was deyelopins
| chemical research.
why not be perfectly frank abouI
! it?" Senator Wadsworth replied. .'W,
| are developing it, too"
Private chemical research, Senator
f! Wadsworth added. could not b,
| stopped and he said Army expert
ments with gas masks, to protec
| soldiers ought not to be hindered