The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-03-18
SEN. ROBINSON ASKS
SECRET DIPLOMACY
BARRED BY TREATY
(By Associated Press)


WASHINGTON March 1S.-Amend-
ment of the four-power Pacific treaty
to bind the signators against secret
diplomacy was urged in the senate to-
day by Senator Robinson, Democrat,
Arkansas, in a speech attacking the
pact as a dangerous instrument II &C
cepted as it Is.
Many treaties of secret understand
ing regarding the far east already
have been made. Senator Robinson
said, and not entirely cleared up by
information furnished to the senate.
He cited in particular the charge Of
the far eastern republic Of China that
a secret agreement exists between
France and Japan relative to Siberia,
and suggested there apparently was
some well defined understanding be-
tween Great Britain and Japan relat-
ing to China.
Unless the truth could be learned
about these alleged agreements, he
argued, it would be unwise for the
United States to enter partnership
with the three other Pacific powers.
An argument in favor of reserva-
ton designed to give outside powers
the benefit of the four-power treaty,
also was made by Senator Robinson
who said that although the proposal
! had been voted down three times when
offered in the shape of an amendment.
| he would present it again in such
form that senators who desire the pact
without political bias" could not fail
to support 1t.
| He declared an unfair effort had
been made to inject politics into the
treaty fight particularly by that por-
! ton of the press which has been un'
quafiedly in favor of the treaty"
/ In the course of the debate Senator
Lodge of Massachusetts, Republican
leader, put into the record, without
comment, statement by Rene Viviani
of the French arms delegation, charac
terizing the treaty as standing outside
all alliances
Explains Reason
i Mr.. Lodge said he desired to present
this statement in view of charges thai
Mr.. Viviani regarded the pact as an
alliance. Senator Shields, Democrat
of Tennessee, called attention to ar
address made in Los Angeles yester
day by Sir Auckland Geddes, the Brit
: fish ambassador, in which he was
, quoted as saying the treaty had re
moved menace from the Far East.
: Senator Robinson said that the pres.
!, report made it even appear that Sil
, Auckland had indicated he believed
, 1.-The treaty avoided war that was i'm
minent in the Pacific or the Orient"
Does the senator mean to say" ask
! ed Senator Johnson, Republican o
, California, that the British ambassa
dor now is engaged in making address
. es for this treaty."
! Senator Robinson replied that h,
only knew what he had seen publish
ed, but hoped that the senate Nigh
have fuller account later. Senate
Robinson asserted, and Senator Borah
Republican, Idaho, concurred, that thu
, Anglo-Japanese alliance, which is ah
. rogated by the treaty, was not a men
ace to the United States.
An agreement of 1911, they said
!. exempted this nation from it's opera
ton.
, The Arkansas senator also argue,
: that the four-power treaty might b.
: construed as "a regional understand
, ling" and thus exempt from the treat
of Versailles.
Secretary Hughes letter to Senate
Underwood, Mr.. Robinson continued
did not disclose why Italy and Tn
Netherlands were excluded from tn
fourpower treaty.
, Whatever may be the motive" h
2 said, "the senate is entitled and ougb
+ to have to reach an intelligent under
:. standing of this treaty.