The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-03-21
BR|T|SH-AMERICAN UNDERSTANDING
 ON I REAT TIE 5
Lodge and Underwood HotIy Deny Charges of Interna- tionaI Agreement With
 Great Britain
By AssocIated Press

Washington, March 20.-Senate debate on the four-power Pacific treaty touched it's high-water mark of bitterness today in an exchange resulting from suggestions of a se- eret British-American understandinp TOT future cooperation.
 Aroused by recurring references to such an international understa nding after It's existence had been directly denied. Senator Lodge of Massachu- sstts. tho republican leader, and & member of the American arms delesa- ton took the floor and in a voice shaken by emotion declared he could no longer be patient under attacks Which seemed to question his patrio- tism and impugn his honor.
 Replying in a fashion scarcely less dramatic, Senator Robertson, demo- crat, Arkansas, an opponent of the treaty, told the Senate he questioned no ones motives but proposed to do his patriotic duty as he saw 1t with out permitting himself to be "intim- dated by outbursts of indignation" He remained convinced. he said. that both of the Senate's representatives
 
 ignorant" of some of the things done at the conference.
 Confer With President
 The exchange between Senators Lodge and Robinson, which was part ] of long debate sown broadcast with l charges of islander" "untruths" and 1 propaganda" took place shortly after the republican leader ard other prom inent figures in his party organiza- ton had canvassed the whole treaty situation at a White House confer ence with President Harding. Besides MT. Lodge, those who were present included Chairman John T. Adams, of the republican national committee. Senator Mccormick of Illinois, chair man of the party's senatorial cam palgn committee, and Senator Curtis of Kansas, republican wihp of the Senate.
 The presence of so many party chiefs at the conference led to the impression that they discussed with the President the possible injection of the arms conference treaties into the coming congressional campaign, but some of the senators who attended said afterwards that the primary purpose was to give Mir. Harding the latest information as to the lineup on the four power treaty ratification vote to be taken Friday. It was said the President reiterated his accep- tance of the mo alliance" reservation drafted by the foreign relation com mittee and was told there was enough votes pledged to ratify the treaty on that basis.
 Harding Calls Democrats
 Late in the day the President also called in two democratic senators, Smith of South Carolina and Kendrick of Wyoming, for a discussion of the treaty situation. The senators on leaving the White House would not even admit that the treaties had been the subject of conversation or from what particular standpoint they had been discussed. At the same time ad- ministration officials reiterated that the treaties were certain to DC raul fled.
 Suggestion of a British-American understanding for future concerted action was thrown into the Senate debate by Senator Borah, republican. Idaho. who read a statement regard ing the conference results he said had been made by Paul D. Cravath. New York attorney. In this statement MT. Cravath was quoted as saying he had been told "by every member of the American delegation" that the confer ence resulted in an unwritten under standing between the United States and Great Britain of such character that both. sides assume that in all future emergencies they can both count on having the very closest CO., operation"
 No Understanding
 The accuracy of this assertion was promptly denied by Senator Lodge and by Senator Underwood of Ala bama, the democratic leader. and also a member of the American delegation. Senator Underwood said he didtn not recall ever having met MT. Cravath and Senator Lodge declared he never talked with him on. the subject. Both asserted positively and directly that 10 far as they knew no such under standing existed or ever had been discussed.
 By Senator Robinson 1t was argued that Mir. Cravath. as well as Secre- tary Hughes and Elihu Root, other two American delegates. should be called before the foreign relations committee before the Senate voted on ratification of the treaty. It was in- dicated that motion to send the treaty to the committee with instruc> tions in investigate further it's mean ing might be made later but adminis- tration leaders said tonight there was no possibility that such a move would