Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1922-02-17
More Light
on Pacific
Pact Asked
Senate Resolution Presented
by Hitchcock Requests Full
Information on Four.Power
Treaty Negotiations.
Other Agreements Read

Washington, req, lp,-sehatc dr-
bate on the Horsepower Pacific treaty
began today with a preliminary iilt
resulting ~ request 10 President
Harding for al. available information
as 10 how the treaty was negotiated.
An hour OF general discussion
which brought TO the surface various
cross currents OF senate opiiion, bu,
failed % develop definitely the rels-
lively strength OF supporters aud o.
ponentS of the treaty. preceded adcp-
tion 81 tie formal regues. for infor-
nation. The resolution had the sup-
pou 81 republican aii democratic
leaders alike and was approved with
out reTord vote.
While Il awaited thu presidents re-
ply, the foreign relations committee
decided 10 so ahead with other trca-
ties feswting from a.. arms nepou.
a,iors. IN the hope ma, all Of them
nigh, DC pressed TO ratification with
out delay. At meeting ls;c in the
day. the committee completed its
reading OF the naval limiiauou and
submarine treaties iirouwt bringing
TO light any indication OF opposition.
Tomorrow il will read through the
general FAR eastern and Chinese
tariff pacts.
Hitchcock Presents Resolution.
Senator Hitchcock OF Nebraska.
ranking democrat member of the
committee and leader of the unsuc-
ccssful fight for the ratification OF
the treaty of Versailles, presented the
resolution requesting full informa-
ton from the president. With some
minor changes in phrasology, it
promptly was accepted by Senators
Lodge of Massachusetts and Under
wood OF Alabama, republican and
democratic leaders, respectively, and
both members OF the American del
egation to the arms conference. al
though each declared he knew OF no
information regarded the four-power
negotiations that was not s.rcady
before the senate. .....-
Senator Underwood, explaining at
length why no record OF the nego-
tiations was kept, declared the dis
cussions could not be carried on in
a public way because they concerned
principally the abrogation OF the
Anglo Japanese alliance, on which
the American delegation could speak
only by private suggestion.
Hitchcock "Amazed."
The "heads of delegation" Mr..
Underwood added, conducted di-
rectly most of the International cx-
changes leading up TO the treaty.
Declaring himself amazed" that
no minutes of so important discus
sion had been kept, Senator Hitch
cock replied that his resolution at
least might result in some light be-
ing thrown on certain questions
raised in regard to the interpreta-
tion of the treaty terms. Senator
Johnson, republican, California, also
declared further explanation was
due the senate and the American
people, since the 900-page book of
data submitted with the treaties
contained scarcely reference to
the four-power pact.
When President Harding will re-
ply to the resolution was uncertain
tonight, in view OF the absence OF
Secretary Hughes, who has gone to
Bermuda. -..
1t was indicated, however. that
action would be taken as quickly as
possible because of the presidents
desire to have ratification OF the
treaties completed without delay.
In order that the full scope and
intent of the four-power agreement
might be understood, Mr.. Lodge put
into the senate record a copy of
note sent by the four signatory pow
ers to Portugal and the Netherlands,
spected in the same manner as those
nations in the Pacific would be re-
spected in the same manner as these
Of the signatories which are to be
respected under the treaty pro-
visions ,-.a =