The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1922-02-14
SENATE ASKED TO
SANCTION ARMS PACT

SENATE ASKED TO
SANCTION ARMS PACT
President Presents Treaties Resulting
From Arms Conference Asking
Lawmakers to Ratify
James R. Nourse in Charleston Amer
ican.
Washington, Feb. 10.-President
Harding today in a speech lasting ex-
actly thirty minutes, laid before the
senate the entire set of treaties draft
ed by the arms conference and urged
their prompt ratification. The presl-
dent declared that unless the treaties
receive the senate's sanction "every
proclaimed desire to promote peace
end prevent war;" would become a
hollow mockery. He said:
eff we cannot join in making ef-
fective these covenants for peace and
stamp this conference with Americas
approval, we shall discredit the infiu-
ence of the republic, render future
efforts futile or unlikely, and write
Encouragement where today the
werld is ready to acclaim new hope"
! In strongest terms the president
gave his solemn and earnest assurance
that there is nothing in any of the
pacts which commits the United
States in any way to an ALLIANCE, en-
tanglement or involvement" and that
"no worth while tradition" is surren-
dered by the United States.
Especially of the four-power Pa
cifc treaty, the president declared it
contained no "war commitment" no
written or moral obligation to join in
defense, "no expressed or implied
commitment to arrive at any agree
ment except in accordance with our
constitutional methods"
Exposition Clears Atmosphere
That the presidents exposition of
the treaties served greatly to clear
the atmosphere with respect to some
of their provisions was admitted by
a number of senators who have been
holding aloof from giving support to
the pacts. That administration lead
ers, taking advantage of this change
of mind, will seek to rush the treaties
through to ratification "while the ir-
on is hot" became evident as soon as
the president had left the senate
chamber. Senator Lodge took the
first step in this direction by immedi-.
ately summoning the foreign relations
committee to meet at 1880 tomorrow
morning to begin consideration of the
treaties. The senator intends to leave
the city tomorrow night to be absent
until next Thursday, at which time
consideration of the treaties will be
resumed.
Senator McNary, republican, of Or
egon, leader of the "mild reservation
ists," was one of the first to admit
that the presidents speech had won
him over to support of the treaties.
He has been holding out for a reser-
vation, declaring that the United
States should not be called upon to
use force in meeting any exigency un-
der the four-power treaty. After the
presidents speech, the senator said:
II thought it was great document.
The president made it plain to me
that no war commitments exist in ar
ticle two Of the four-power treaty.
This was the only thing that stood be-
tween me and vote for the treaty
and l believe the people of the Pacific
coast Will be satisfied with the presi-
dents assurance"
Borah's Position
Senator Borah, leader of the ire
concilaLles, said he liked the speech
and that he had examined the naval
treaty sufficiently to know that he
would vote for it. He announced,
with a reservation, that he might also
support the other treaties, his state
,,,oot bo;pn 90 fol1o1ys.
"If I find the presidents construc-
ton of the other treaties is correct,
that they do not entangle US in an al
lance, and that they do preserve the
traditional policy of the United States
l may support them. But if I find by
my examination of them that they
do these things, then I will oppose
them to the very best Of my ability"
Among democratic members senti-
ment generally was in support of the
presidents position, although Senator
Hitchcock, who led tAe fight for the