Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-03-09
SKIRMISH
ENGAGED IN BY
4-PQWE R PACT 8
FRIENDS. F FOES
Senate Holds a Four-Hour
Stormy Session. Lodge
in Carefully Prepared
Speech, Defends Treaty,
SPIRITED CLASHES
Between LEADERS
Reed Takes a Crack at the
Agreement Debate to
Continue Today Early
Vote Is Contemplated,
fnr rhe AssocInted pressl

Washington, March S.-Friends
and opponents Of the fourpower
Pacific treaty in the senate met in
their first general skirmish today
at four hour stormy session which
touched on virtually every disputed
question of the arms conference
program.
Taking the initiative for the ad-
ministration, Senator Lodge of
Massachusetts, the republican
leader and a member of the Amer
lean arms conference delegation,
told the senate in a carefully pre-
pared address that the E-ur-power
pact had its "main purpose" in
abrogation of the Anglo-Japanese
alliance, and that if ratification
was defeated it meant failure of
the conference"
Reeds Views Aired.
Senator Reed. democrat Of Mis-
souri,, said that either the treaty
contemplated more than the re-
publican leader had admitted or
else it was a farce" and q piece
of international bunkum." If the
national policies of Great Britain
and Japan were such as to make
continuance of the Japanese
alliance a real menace to the Unit
ed States, the Missouri senator de-
clared. no promise to consult" in
future controversies would be
worth the paper it was written on.
Support of the treaty was ex
IvIAtahc.
crat of Florida. while Senator'S
Robinson, democrat of Arkansas;
Watson, democrat of Georgia;
Borah, republican of Idaho. and
France, republican of Maryland,
joined with Senator Reed in at
taclllng it. The debate eventually
involved discussion of all the arms
conference treaties and resulted in
several spirited clashes between
the leaders on opposing sides.
Lodge Cross Examined.
One of the many objects on
which Senator Reed cross question
ed Mr.. Lodge was he celebrated
difference of view" between Pres
ident Harding and the American
delegation as to application Of the
four-power pact to the homeland
of Japan. The republican leader
insisted that there had been no
understanding among the dele
gates for inclusion of the homeland
within the treaty's scope. and that
the supplemental treaty on that
subject had been signed because
Japan had asked for a change in
the original agreement.
While the debate was in prog
ress President Harding replied to-
the senate's request for informa
ton about the status of the Lans-
ing-Ishii agreement with Japan,
declaring in a special senate mes
sage that no provision of the agree
ment in conflict with the open
door policy could remain in force
after conclusion of the general Fart
Eastern treaty signed at the con- /
ference.
Senator Borah who was the
author of the resolution of inquiry, |
told the senate that the presidents
did not coincide with |
those of Japanese statesmen but
added that since the Lansing-IshiiI
agreement was only an executive
declaration of policy. Mr.. Harding's |
pronouncement ought to lie suffi-
cient to terminate it.
The debate in the senate Is to be
continued tomorrow, with the ad-
leaders urging that a /
vote be expedited.
Lodge Addresses Senate.
Declaring he desired to 'tell tha
senate with entire frankness" the
CONTINUED on Page Two.)