New-York tribune., 1922-03-04

Pact is Cited
By Treaty Foes
Borall to Urge Harding Make
Plain Whether Agreemen,
of 1917 Is Superseded by
4~Power Understanding
Interpretation in Dispute
Raising Of New Question III
volving Japan's Rights
to Prolong Senate Fight

Ff5M The 2fTbuNeS washington S1rtn9
WASHINGTON, March S.-Contro-
vsrsy in the Senate over the fatihca-
tion Of the four power treaty hat taken
on new complications because Of aaes-
tions which opponents Of the treaty
have raised over" the Laneing-1shii
agreement
Senator Bofah. Of Idaho, who is tax.
ing leading part in the fght as6intt
ratification, is preparing a resolution
which he will introduce in a day or two
calling on the President for informa :
sioa as to the exact status Of the Ian
sing-Ishii agreement ard whether this
government understands that the ne@
treaties have the eject Of supersedihg
or abrogating it.
The Lansing-Ish.i agreement 0as
concluded November 8, 1917 between
the United States and Jepan, through
Secretary Of State Lansing and Wis
count Ishii, special Japanese AmhassA
dor. In it the government of the
torial propindaitv creates special rela1
quently, that Japan Mas special inter
ests in China, particularly in the part
TO which her possessions are contigu.
GUS"
Disagree on Interpretation
The two governments have net coin.
cided in their Interpretation. Viscount
lshii, on his return to Japan, construed
it as practically making Japanese in
terests paramount in those parts Of the
Orient nearest to her. Secretary Lam
sing held, when he was before the For
eign Relations Committee and st other
times, that it was not his uNderst tand-
ing that The agreement conferred new
rights on japan. China declined to
look on the agreement as binding on
her, and the Chinese Minister served
sueh notice on this government No
vember IL, 1917.
When the pending treaties were up
ia the Foreign Relations Committee re-
Gently there we're discussions on two
occasions Of the Lansihg-Ishii agree
ment and how it was affected by the
treaties. Senator Borah took the posi-
ton that it was tust as important 70
know specifically that the LansingIs
Understanding was terminated as it
was to know that the Anglo-J apanese
alliance was ended.
Senators Lodge and Williams, In the
discussion in committee, It was said TO-
DAY, both expressed the view the Lans-
ing-Ishii agreement would be super
seded and practically abrogated by the
new treaties.
Senator Borah will take the attitude
that the only authority in the govern
ment in position to say positively
what has become Of the Lsnslhg-1shii
agreement, or what will become Of it,
is the President. and the State Depart.
ment under the President.
It will be the contention Of Senators
who oppose the four-power treaty that
if the Lansing g-Ishii compact is to con-
tinue in force and Japan is to claim
rights in Asia recognized by this gov
ernment under it, then Japan, once in
the new four-powcr arrangement, will
Be in 6 better position than ever with
respect to strengthening herself on the
mainland of Asia. Opponents Of the
treaty said to-day that Japan regarded
herself as sponsor for "the Monroe
ing-1shii agreement tended to back her
up in this respect.
Longer Discussion Forecast
It was generally deemed probable to-
Gay that the raising Of the question
dhout lNc AdHSlNR- -4Snll agreement
would add fuel to the danes Of con-
troversy over the four-power treaty
and prolong the discusson
The Senate did not take up the four
power treaty to-day. Talk about the
Senate confirmed the reports Of yester-
day that the treaties were under dis
cussion at the Tumulty dinner among
Governor Cox and other Democratic
leaders. and that the minority onposi-
tion to se four-pow understanding
was more and more taking on organ
lied form. At the same time, Senator
Underwood is known to feel entirely
conf dent Of ratification OF all the
treaties
Republican leaders have been dis
posed to engage in as little debate as
possible. to avoid delaying ratification
However. Senator New will or Mondav
make set speech in favor Of the four.
power agreement and the treaties gen
orally He probably will be followed
BY some Of the other Republicans q,
the Foreign Relations Committee.
Senator Underwood has called nc
conference Of Senate Dem ocrats TO ex-
plain the treaties. He considers THAI
the friends Of the undertakings have
the situation we'll in hand and that it
VIII not be necessarv