Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-03-09
DEMOCRAT DEFENDS PACT.
Fletcher Declares Four-Power
Treaty Basis Of All.

Following Senator Lodges expla-
nation and defense of the four-power
treaty yesterday afternoon. attacks
upon the treaty we're launched by
Senators Reed, Robinson. Watson Of
Georgia. Borah and France.
Senator Fletcher of Florida spoke
in support of the pact. the first
democrat to take, the ffeer In favor
of ratification.
This body asked for a llsarm-
amen. conference and not for four
power treaty. not for a Chinese pact"
Senator Reed declared; the Presf-
dent saw fit to call this conference
and to enlarge it"
Senator Reeds Position
IF we do not subscribe to what
he and some other men in it brought
forth. is America failing? That Is a
from Massachusetts. for I remember
| that another President had a plan
| and insisted that 1t was Americas
plan, and he. too. l suppose, thought
| it ought not to fail. Yet with all
the sasactty he possessed. the sen
bring that to failure because it was
wrong"
Senator New, republican, Indiana,
| interjected that the Versailles con-
! ference was not called by an Amer
lean President, and he added that the
league of nations was not an Ameri-
, can proposition. Senator Reed re-
piled that although drafted by Gen.
Smuts. the idea Of the league was
"Mr. Wilson's main objective" and
was proposed by him months before
E: the Versailles conference.
! Senator Fletcher declared the four
power measure, If rejected, would
! greatly minimize. if not destroy, the
! value of the other treaties" of the
/ Washington conference.
! Defended by Fletcher.
"It would defeat the sound policy
| lying back of all-reduction of arma-
ment and relief from the burdens of
war, said Senator Fletcher, the first
! democrat to speak In behalf of the
! four power measure. Senator Fletcher
(. said the four-power treaty was SINH
!; lar to the Bryan treaties.
said Senator Fletcher. Ito such an
alliance as eliminates the probability
Of disputes and the causes of war.
| There is no agreement to resort
i to force, but only to hold counsel.
! There is no pied se. or obligation. or
| Of any of the parties, much less any
), AGREEMENT behind which lies force
| Senator Fletcher said the situa tfon
! in the far east had been one OF ap-
/ prehension, suspicion and fear. which
! he declared. would be removed by the
! four-power treaty through elirnina-
| ton OF all alliances OF the far east.
| 1--WE surely do not wish Great Brit
| ain to continue her military alliance
(, with Japan" said Senator Fletcher.
| PresIdent Makes Reply.
While the debate was in progress
| President Harding replied to the Sen
ate's request for intor alton about
the status of the Lansina-Ishii agree
! ment with Japan, declaring in spe-
cial Senate message that no provi-
/ sion of the agreement in conflict with
| the open door policy could remain in
J force after conclusion Of the general
/. far eastern treaty signed at the con-
! ference. Senator Borah, who was the
(! author Of the resolution of inquiry
!; told the Senate that the Presidents
. conclusions did not coincide with
i those of Japanese statesmen. but add
/, ed that since the Lansing-Ishii agree
ment was only an executive declara-
| ton of policy Mr.. Har6ing's pro-
| nouncement ought to be sufficient to
| terminate IT.
| Reed stands Corrected.
| During the attack upon the four
| nnwer treaty by Senator Reed. yesSer-
/; dav afternoon. Senator Reed denied
| that the Horsepower treaty provided
| for the elimination OF the Ansfo-Jap-
anese alliance.
INN ediateiy Senator Lenroot OF
| wisconsin was on his feet and, inter-
! rupting Senator Reed. read to the
senate the fourth section Of the four
/ power treaty. which says:
"This treaty shall be ratified as soon
as possible In accordance with the
constitutional methods of the high
| Contracting parties, and shall take ef-
feet on the. deposit Of ratification,
which shall take place at Washing
ton. and, therefore, the agreement be-
! tween Great Britain and Japan. which
! was concluded at London on July Is,
| 1911, shall terminate"
! Senator Reed admitted shat he stood
! corrected.
This colloouy, which took place on
| the floor Of the Senate. did not appear
in the Congressional Record today.