Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1922-03-21
Pact With
Britain Is
Charged a
Borah Reads Notes of Speech
by Attorney Telling Of
Secret Agreement
Against Japan.
Bitter Debate Follows

omshs Ne, leased Wire.
Washington, March 2o.-lhe bit.
teFest debate the senate has heard
since the fight over the iour-power
treaty began was precipita,ed today
when Senator Borah OF Idaho read
INTO the record a stcnographie re-
port OF statement attributed 10 Pau
ID. Cravath. counsel for powerful
New York banking interests. and de
liyercd before the foreign trade coun-
ell, 10 the effect that the United
States had entered into secret
agreement with Great Britain 10 CO.
operate against Japan in the Pacific.
Mr.. Cravath is reported 10 have
said OIL February IL:
Nov. 10 my mind very impci.
tant part OF the achievement of the
Washington conference is not re-
corded at all in black and white in
that treaty or in any oi the other
treaties negotiated. And that is the
bringing about OF what seems to b.
a sympathetic understanding be
tween Great Britain and the United
States regarding the far east and
the Pacific generally.
Surrender Naval Position.
II quite agree that under the pro-
gram produced by these treaties we
have practically surrendered our
naval position in the Pacific. ! as
sumo that without further foytihca-
tions in the Pacific, and that with the
Notifications and fleets as agreed
upon. we could NOT compete with
Japan in the Pacific alone. and GER
tainly we could not compete with
all Anglo Japanese fleet in that
region. ...-
"On the other hand and to my
mind this is the much more encour-
aging statement based on the same
facts, an Anglo-American feet in
the Pacific would dominate Japan. anG
il seems TO me we have substituted IN
place OF the necessity for creating
the greatest fleet the world has ever
seen with all the experience anC
temptations that involves, an III.
dersanding and basis for co-opers-
ton with Great Britain which gives
these two powers the control of
combined fleet in the Pacific which
will be large enough to dominate
Japan and make her live up to the
obligations she has assumed"
Davis Interrupts.
Norman H. Davis, under secretary
Of state in the Wilson administration
who happened TO be present at tn.
meeting, inquired:
81 want to know if you are max
ing that statement as a fact or is ii
just your own opinion OF what would
happen?"
Mr.. Cravath responded:
81 have been told by every mem.
Der of the American delegation and
while l have not been told by every
member OF the British delegation.
know definitely that the view is helc
by Mr.. Balfour and / think by every
other member of the British delega
ton, that the result of the Washing
ton conference has been not a formal
agreement by any means, but al
understanding, and such a degree OF
understanding and such 4 basis OF
sympathy has been created between
Great Britain and the United States
that both sides assume that in alf
future emergencies they can bot,
count on having the closest cooper
alton"
Assertions Denied
Senator Borall described Mr.. Cra-
vath as "a leader of the bar and the
representative of the most important
corporate and banking interests III
the United States.
Ii he knew what he was talking
about-as he must have" said Sen
ator Borall, "it simply discloscs that
we never can be sure what we are
being let i'll for in international
agreements
Senator Lodge, republican leader.
and Senator Underwood, democratic
leader, who comprised one-half of
the American delegation in the arnla-
ment conference. denied Mr.. Cra-
vaths assertions with considerable
heat.
so far as | know there is mol
a word of truth in the whole state
ment," said Senator Underwood.
81 never conferred with Mr..
,Cravath," said Senator Lodge, ~
know of mo such agreement or
understanding. There is not word
of truth in it SO far as | know"
Menace to Government.
Senator Underwood agreed that
Mr.. Cravath was attorney for one
OF the greatest banking institutions
in the United States" but he. in
sisted that the statement was with
out foundation.
II statement of this kind is
allowed to go out from the floor OF
the senate without unqualified con-
tradiction it is danger to the
people Of the United States and a
menace to the government" said
Senator Underwood. ut makes a
statement that might easily involve
the friendly relations of the United
States with another great power. Il
would be statement indicative tint
our government was unfaithful and
treacherous As a senator and a
citizen, will not allow it to go forth
without my absolute contradictions
Senator Robinson of Arkansas.
leading the democratic opposition to
the treaty, demanded a senatorial in
vestigation OF the remarks. of Mr..
Cravath. whom he characterized as
"the representative of the Morgans
and Ryans" He asked that Secre-
tary OF State Hughes and Mr.. Roo-
be requested TO testify before TIE
foreign relations committee.