New-York tribune., 1922-02-11
Asks Prompt Action

Appealing for prompt ratification
Of all seven documents, the President
carefully answered every objection
which has been voiced either By
Senators or in the press to any Of
the treaties, devoting most of this
portion of his address to defense
Of the four-power Pacific treaty.
This, he declared, "is no commit
ment to armed force, no alliance, no
written or moral obligation to JOIN
in defense, no expressed or implied
commitment to arrive at any agrees
ment except in accordance with our
constitutional methods"
Frankly, Senator's" he said, con-
tinuing mis- defense Of this treaty. OF
which has been centered most Of the
criticism directed ct the work Of the
conference, IF nations may not safely
agree to respect each others rights and
may not agree to confer if one TO ths
compact threatens trespass. or may 10.
agree to advise Il one party TO the
pact is threatened By an outside powe'.
then ali concerted efforts to tranquil
ize the world and stabilize peace muss
be flung to the Winds
Sanction Needed Before Gut
The President declared that i was
"quite impossible to rcediust our naval
program until the naval treaty has
your sanction. even though YOU urged
its negotiation. It is not possible 30
make the readjustmenJ IN full CON
fdence until the whole program has
commended itself to your approval"
All through the Presidents address
run three ideas-one, that the confer
ence has achieved tremendous results
for world peace and removal Of arma-
ment burdens, the value Of which nay
be lost If the Senate should fail 10
approve the treaties; second, that ur-
less this approval is granted all poss'-
bilty of arriving at any results look
ing to the elimination of wars will ha
futile, and, third. the direct appeal 20
the Senate on the ground that it had
inspired the armament limitation idea,
that two of its leaders had helped ne-
gotate tho treaties ard that every det~
erence was being given that body
Evidently in writing his speech Presi~
dent Harding was thinking almost IS
much about the Versailles treaty fight
as about the Washington conference.
Complete Minutes Presented
With the treaties the President. la d
before the Senate the report Of the
American delegation, consisting of
American delegates. Messrs. Hughes,
| Lodge, Root and Underwood. two Sena-
tors and one former Senator. He also
presented for the guidance Of the Sen
ate the complete minutes not only OF
the meetings of the conference itself,
but of its committees.
In fact, the President laid before the
Senate, without being asked. everything
for which the last Senate wheedlcd,
commanded and was refused at the
hands of President Wilson during tho
Versailles fight.
But, having given the Senate in adj
vance all the information he could cons
ceive of it wanting, the President re,
peated the solemn warning that these
treaties must be ratified. and quickly.
"If to these understandings fol
peace" he said, "if to these advanced
expressions of the conscience of lead,
| ing powers, if to these concords to
| guard against conflict and lift the burt
| dens of armament, if to all of thess
the Senate will not advise and consent
then it will be futile to try again.
Viewpoint Different Now
Mr.. Harding also warned the Senate
that he saw things in different light
since entering the White House.
II alluded moment ago to ms
knowledge of the viewpoint of ths
Senathe," he said, from personal ex.
perience. Since that experience have
come to know the viewpoint and ines,
capable responsibility of the Execu,
tive. The the Executive comes ths
closer view of world relationship anc
q more impressive realization OF thu
menaces. the anxieties, and the appre
tensions to be met"
I submit to the Senate that If ",
can not join in makiEs effective thes,
covenants for peace. End stamp thi