Omaha daily bee., 1922-03-29
Passage of
Naval Pact
Is Certain
Five Hours Debate in Senate
Shows Sentiment Virtually
Unanimous for Bill
Demos Claim Credit.
Vote to Be Taken Today

Washington. March Is. Five
hours OF debate ON the naval lImita.
ton treaty today. revealed virtual.
ly unanimous senate sentiment in is
favor aud resulted in an agreement 10
vote finally upon its ratification at
) tomorrow afternoon.
Throughout the days discussion
not single voice was raised in ops
position. although from the demo-
cratic side there were numerous cX-
pressions oi disappointment that the
treaty did not 90 further in the di.
rcction OF both land and sea disarm-
ament. Claiming a share OF credit
i0r the reduction actually accom-
pllshed. the democrats at the same
time sought 10 show that the whole
idea OF an armament conference
originated at the democratic con-
gress oil 1910 and finally was forced
upon reluctant republican admin
istration.
Ratification Predicted.
Tonight the administration leaders
were predicting that the ratification
would be unanimous and that the
submarine and poison gas treaty
would be approved by like vote be-
tore adjournment tomorrow night.
The sudden sweep OF progress arous-
ed hopes in some administration cir
clcs that the two Chinese treaties
,n1, al k. nd Ia, Nylt La
group OF arms conference covenants
returned TO the White Housc with
senate approval by the end OF the
present week.
Debate on the naval treaty, which
began with today's session, was de-
void OF the colorful touches which
had characterized the fight over the
iour-power pact. Senator Lodge OF
Massachusetts, the republican leader,
explained the treaty's provisions i'll a
detailed statement OF more than two
hours and later Senator Underwood
OF Alabama, floor leader for the DEM
ocrats, and like Senator Lodge a
member OF the American arms dele
CATION, added his approval in short
speech, declaring the treaty would be
accepted as an cpochal achievement
by the American people, regardless OF
party. -.
Hitchcock Claims Credit.
Senator Hitchcock of Nebraska,
senior democrat on the foreign rela-
tions committee, took the lead IN
claiming for his party the credit to
be derived from the accomplishment
of the conference. He pointed out
that the naval appropriation bill OF
1916 contained suggestion tor such
a conference and declared that the
resolution for a conference intro
duced a year ago by Senator Borah,
republican, Idaho, was heartily Sup
ported by the democrats OF the SEN
ate and was opposed actively by
President Harding.
The assertions of Senator Hitch
cock regarding the presidents attl-
tude were denied by Senator kell-
osg. republican, Minnesota, who
said Mr.. Harding had been anxious
for an international meeting OF
minds, although he might have with
held approval from some of the spe-
cifc proposals in that direction con-
sidcred in congress. The discussion
finally resolved itself in a league
OF nations argument in which Sen
ator Williams, democrat, Mississippi,
predicted that the league would re-
MAIN political issue until the Unit
cd States had become member OF 1t.
Making his only obervatlon during
the debate, Senator Borah, author
Of the conference resolution, asked
how it could remain a political is
sue, with one party going in the
front door and the other going in
the back door"