New-York tribune., 1922-03-26
Ratification
Held Invalid
BY Hitchcock
Democrats Contend Fail
urc to Include Japan
csc Mainland Agree
meDt Made Vote Void
Point Is MOI Well
Taken, Says Lotl lee
Supplementary Pact Not
Part of Treaty, but In.
depreciation of Terms

depreciation OF Terms
Prom The Trtbuuos Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, March 25-In spite
o. the fact that the four-poucr treaty
mas been ratified by decisive vote
the Senate to-day thrcshcd over MANY
phases of that agreement The sup
elemental treaty, intended to exclude
from the operations Of the treaty the
mainland of Japan, was up for consid-
Grafton and led to long discussion. In
this connection, Democratic leaders
stirred up contention over the declara-
tion which, like the four-power treaty,
was signed by the various delegates to
the conference December 10, 1921. This
declaration says it is the "understand-
ing and intent Of the signatory powers"
that the United States does not assent
to the mandates over the islands of the
Pacific and that the controversies re-
ferred to In the second paragraph Of
Article | shall not include domestic
questions.
Senator Hitchcock insisted this dec
laration was an essential part Of the
tour-power treaty and should have been
ratified yesterday when the treaty was
before the Senate. He recalled that he
sought to get action on it then, but
Senator Lodge refused at the time. By
taking this course and refusing to rat
lty the declaration then, Senator
Hitchcock insisted the whole PROPOSE
ton Of ratification of the treaty had
been involved in doubt and uncertainty
Democrats Ask Reconsideration
Senators Robinson, King Walsh Of
Montana, and Pittman supported the
view of Senator Hitchcock. Demo
cratic leaders took the stand that only
by reconsideration of the four-power
treaty could the declaration be prop
erly ratified as a part of the treaty.
They talk of making such a move, but
it would be defeated.
Senator Lodge asserted repeatedly
that in his opinion the declaration was
not part of the treaty, but declara-
ton Of understanding by the delegates
to the conference. However, he finally
SAID he would bring in later resolu-
ton of ratification covering the dec
laratlon and drafted such resolution
A long and animated discussion re-
y,olved about the legal question whether
the declaration was part of the treaty
senator hitchcock set forth number
of citations Of authority to sustain his
view
Senator Pittman took the ground that
the tour-poWer treaty had removed no
question of controversy between the
United States and Japan, said the only
controversy with Japan had centered
about immigration and ownership Of
land IN this country, and raised the
query whether, in not submitting the
declaration to the Senate for ratifca-
ton, 1t was the intention to submit to a
conference Of the four powers the
questions relating to immigration.
Senator Lodge denied there was any
such purpose, and Senator Lenroot
pointed out that a conference under
the four-power treaty could deal only
with matters covered by the treaty.
Controversy Begins at Once
Controversy started once more in the
Senate this afternoon almost as soon
as that body convened. The supple
mental treaty to exclude the mainland
of Japan from the four-power treaty
was called up by Senator Lodge. I'm
der the supplemental treaty, while the
mainland of Japan is excluded from the
four-power agreement the southern
half of the island of Saghalin is in
cluded. The treaty opponents contend
that because this is included the United
States will soon find itself involved in
dispute between Japan and Russia
who are in controversy over Saghalin.
Senator Robinson offered an amend
ment to exclude the southern half Of
Saghalin from the supplemental treaty
Effect of this amendment would be, in
fact to exclude the southern half Of
Saghalin from the four-power under
standing.
Senator Pittman raised the question
by what authority the declaration Of
understanding was eliminated from the
four-poWer treaty.
Senator Lodge replied it was not a
part of the four-poWcr treaty, but an
Interpretation of it. Senator Pittman
contended it was the duty of the Presi-
dent t. present the declaration to the
Senate.
"Only portion Of this treaty was
presented to the Senate" he said
"Either the President did not do his
duty or those representing him here
failed to perform their duty
Versailles Record Read
He read from records to show that
Senators who voted to exclude domestic
questions from the Treaty Of Versailles
(Connued on next snse)