Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-03-14
McCumber Declares Plan
Would Fulfill G. 0. P. Cam.
paign Pledge.
NAMES NINE NATIONS
AS ELIGIBLE TO PACT
Proposal Condemns Wars and Fixes
Six-Month Period for Investi-
cation of Differences.

Senate today by Senator McCumber.
republican, North Dakota, during de-
bate on the four-power Pacific treaty.
The North Dakota senator read the
plank in the republican platform of
1920 regarding such an international
agreement and then placed in the
record his proposal, which, he said,
would carry out the campaign pledge.
Provisions Of Draft.
The draft which he submitted would
provide for consultations on all sub
jects threatening war, would con-
denim wars of aggression, and would
fix six-month period of investiga-
ton when hostilities were threatened.
The parties to the association
would be the United States. Great
Britain. France. Italy. Germany, Aus
tria, Spain, Japan and Russia.
For Peace in Pacific.
Senator McCumber declared. the
four-power treaty was IAN associa-
tion OF nations for the maintenance
of peace in the Pacific" and then
asked:
is it not an opportune time to ask
the President and the administration
what became of the general associa-
tion Of nations for the peace of the
world?"
when the Versailles treaty was
before the Senate" Senator McCum-
ber continued. 1.-The members of the
Senate and the public generally, no
matter how wide their differences on
the Versailles treaty. all agreed that
some step should be taken through
some kind of international agree
ment to prevent another such world
conflict. The republican party in its
platform met this sentiment for some
kind of international world agree
ment.
THAT declaration did not mean
that we should enter into an associa
tion with just those nations with
whom we had been allied in war. 1t
meant an association with all the
great nations. with our late enemies
naNant an association with Germany
and Austria as we'll as with France
and Great Britain. An association
with portion of them only would be
a trouble breeder rather than a peace
assurance" e-.
directed toward the arms conference
program generally, but he laid par
ticular stress on the four-power
treaty. urging extension of the con-
ference plan to embrace all the great
powers, including Germany and Aus
tria.
He declared he would support the
mo alliance" reservation proposed by
the foreign relations committee. mot
because 1 consider 1t necessary, but
because there are some who feel that
it ought to be inserted and might
keep us out of future trouble
Comments on Treaties.
From the standpoint of disarma-
ment alone" said Mr. McCumber.
"these several treaties may not mean
much for world peace. In their broad
er contemplation there is something
of human weakness. an mate ridicu-
lousness in their provisions. But it
is encouraging to know that these
agreements lead toward world sanity.
So this conference has breathed the
bodies of these disarmament treaties"
Supporters Of the four-power Pa
cific treaty again took the offensive
when the Senate resumed debate on
the pact today, under an agreement
to vote late this afternoon on the
first Of the proposed amendments.
Senators McCumber of North Da-
republicans, led off for the ratifica-
ton advocates. praising the treaty as
a long step toward international un-
derstanding and denying that it en-
bodies dangerous entanglements. On
the opposing side Senator Walsh,
democrat, Montana, was given right
of way for a legal argument attack
ing the treaty's obligations.
Might Withdraw Others.
Emphasizing the Importance of the
four-power pact as an integral part of
the arms conference program, Senator
Lenroot suggested that, if ratification
Of this treaty failed, President Harding
might consider withdrawing the others
produced by the conference and asking
for a popular verdict on the whole SUBJ
ject at the November election.
Senator McCumber also declared the
to the whole armament program. but
asked what had become of the republi-
can campaign pledge Of 1920 for an
'association of nations" embracing the
entire world in its scope.
Roll Call to Show Stand.
- Although not regarded by the lead
ers as a test vote with direct bearing
on the question of ratification, the
roll call to be taken at 4 pm. today
was expected to show for the first
time the attitude of mind Of various
senators who have not previously
taken an active part in the treaty
fight. The amendment to be acted on
was offered by Senator Robinson,
democrat, Arkansas. 1t proposes par
ticipation of non-signatory nations
in the benefits and Conferences" of
the treaty involving their interests.
Senator Lenroot's suggestion that
withdrawal of the other treaties
might be considered should the four
power pact fail, was made in connec-
ton with a long prepared reply to
charges that the four-power agree
ment would bind the United States to
use force. Not only was such an in
ference wholly unwarranted, he said,
but the treaty constituted such an i'm
portant~peace step that its failure
"may mean failure Of all the treaties 81
- France Not Enthusiastic.
1--WE know" said Mr.. Lenroot, "that
France is not knthusiastic over the
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