The Washington times., 1922-03-12
HUGHES DECLARES
HE WROTE treaty
Denies Y. 8. Envoys Were
Dupss Of England and Japan
at Arms Meet.

Dupss Of England and Japan
at Arms Meet.
Continued from First Page)
against doing what IL right because
the authorship OF what Ia right is
distasteful to him. any more than
he should be prejudiced toward
doing something wrong because he
approves of the authorship OF that
wrong.
Underwood IAuds Hughes.
Whether the four-power treaty
came from the head of the Ameri-
can delegation or from the head Of
the British delegation. or was fos-
tered by Japan 10 not, In my obin.
ion. the real basis for determination
Of the merits Of the issue confront
ing the Senate.
After all the treaty itself ia too
important TO be judged other than
by its merits. not by subject matter
which IL not material to the issue It
involved" Underwood continued.
but In order to satisfy those Of my
| colleagues who have raised tho
| question OF its authorship I asked
the Secretary Of State to inform the
Senate regarding II. He has done
SO In letter which hold In my
hand"
Surprised by Underwood's an.
nouncement. Republican and Demo
cratic Senators bent forward as Un-
derwood. holding the letter in his
hand. paid tribute to Hughes as 4
great American" and then pro-
ceeded to read It.
| mo man can challenge the word
Of the Secretary OF State" said Un.
derwood as he finished reading the
Hughes letter.
| 1T is then q fact that the negotia-
tions leading up to the four-power
treaty were primarily conducted in
secret?" Immediately demanded Sen
ator Robinson Of Arkansas, a leader
Of the Democratic opposition to the
treaty.
That may be said to be true un-
der the circumstances" was Under
woods rejoinder as he urged that
necessarily the negotiations could
not be held In public because Of the
delicate diplomatic conditions sur
rounding them"
Robinson Questions Underwood.
Underwood explained that 1t was
deemed wise" to conduct the
negotiations behind closed doors be-
cause IL was necessary for the
British and Japanese delegates to
first pave the way for the scrappinR
Of the Anglo-Japanese alliance, of
which the four-power treaty was
finally substituted.
Does the Senator intend to in
form the Senate that II was neces.
sary for the British and japanese
delegates to conduct their negotia.
tions in secret because they were
fearful that hostile public senti.
ment In Great Britain and in japan
might interfere with their plans?''
Inquired Robinson.
Where was the necessity, then,
Of Withholding information ,trom the
American people. who had every
right to know what was being done
in connection with . treaty involv-
ing their welfare and peace?" per-
sisted Robinson after Underwood re-
piled in the negative to his first
question.
my first information that an.
other pact would have to replace the
Anglo-Japanese alliance II II were
annulled, came after the conference
was called and at the first meeting
of the American delegation"
do you think the American
people understood this alliance" :"
queried Robinson. DO you think
they would favor 1t II they knew
this was a four.power alliance
merely substituted for a two-power
alliance?"
Outside Of few certain factions.
the American people as a whole
favor ratification Of the treaty" re-
piled Underwood.
II mean. do you think the Ameri.
can people would favor II II they
fully understood why the Anglo.
japanese alliance was scrapped by
the substitution of an alliance in
cluding the United SStates?" Robin
son pressed.
Treaty No Alliance.
IT think the American people are
wholly in favor Of It," replied Tn.
derwood.
"The Senator says the American
people favor ratification of this pact
but he will not say whether he thinks
they understand it?" Robinson sad
ansrily.
"I don't think the treaty is an
alliance" Underwood retorted sharp
ly. THE American people don't
think it's an alliance. believe
though that IL they thought 1t was an
alliance to get rid OF menace in
the Pacific and to give the Philip.
pines protection, they would favor
II. believe the American people
would favor an alliance for pence
friends, who may not ha
earnest consideration that