Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-03-13
Week of Scrapping


ment and oratory today on the floor
Of the Senate.
Throughout the battle Of wits the
burden Of defense was carried by
Serator Underwood of Alabama, the
Democratic floor leader and a men,
Der OF the American delegation to
the arms conference. Fringed by
enemies of the treaty. largely of his
own party. the minority leader stood
for three hours in his place in the
center of the chamber and replied
in kind to the thrusts directed at
him.
Among the weapons of argument
ne used was letter written to him
by Secretary Hughes. head Of the
American conference plenipotenti-
aries, replying to charges that the
treaty resulted from British
japanese plan to allay the embar-
easements of the Anglo ia panese al
lance. Mr.. Hughes asserted he
himself had prepared a draft of the
treaty after consultation with the
other delegates and that with minor
changes it became the final text as
signed and submitted to the Senate
for ratification.
The State Department secretary
further declared there was mot tn:
slightest mystery about it." He de-
scribed it as "a straightforward doc
ument which attains one of the most
important objects the American
government has had in view Of the
highest Importance to the rainten-
arce of friendly relations IL: the Far
East upon sound basis"
IN view of this and in view of the
relation of this treaty to the results
of tie conference" concluded Mr..
Hughes, Its failure would be moth
ing short of a national calmity.'
The argumentative duel wnicn fol-
lowed the reading of the sccretaly's
letter by Senator Underwood and
which interposed itself IN tie soma
tors prepared address was fought
for an hour between the speaker and
Senator Robinson. Democrat, Arkan-
sas who had originally raised the
qucst.Cn of the origin of the treaty
ard who declared the sacrctary3 let =
ter had not dispelled evidences that
the four power arrangement was IN
srireG from London and TOkio. 9th
err Democrats than joined in the
questioning of their party leader
Their efforts were seconded from the
ItrrEblican side of the chamber by
Senators Borah of Idaho and Fran te
If Maryland.
Senator Underwood said his sup
port of the treaty was actuated by
the same spirit that prompted him
to vote for the treaty of Versailles
with its League of Nations. He de-
clared no alliance was contemplated
hut added that he could see no OBJ
lection even to an alliance if it were
based on arbitration rather than
force and effaced dangers that
threatened American interests in the
Pacific. To reject the pact because i
does not bind the sienatories to en-
ploy force. he asserted. would be &c
revert - the reactionary philosophy
of the past.
The Democratic leader conceded
that the negotiations leading up t
the treaty We're carried on in sec
recy' hut argued that such a course
was necessary in view of the pecul-
lar circumstances surrounding tbs
effort of the American delegation (
rid the world of the Anslo-Japanese
alliance. In the main, he said .he
arms conference was conducted more
openly than any similar consultation
in the history of the world.
Because of n desire by many soma
tors to complete work on an appro.
priation bill. administration eaders
! did not carry ont their purpose tC
force a vote today on the first Of ;hf
proposed reservations and the treaty
was laid temporarily aside without
action. Senator Lodge of Massachu.
sets. the Republican leader, an.
nOunced. however. that on Monday hf
would try to secure an agreement fol
time for voting. and should he fa
would hold the senate to long ses-
sions" until the debate had worn it
self out.
Though they cared to make III
numerical estimates. the Republican
and Democratic floor leaders both re-
NAMED confident tonight that no res
ervation except that drawn by the
foreign relations COMMITTEE would be
adopted and that the treaty would
have a safe ma iority on the ratifica
ton roll Gull. They declared thai
more than the necessary thirds
lad pledged themselves to support it