Evening star., 1922-03-12
UNDERWOOD FIGHTS
SENATE ONSLAUGHT
ON 4-POWER: PACT
Battle of Wits Rages for
Hours About United States
Parley Delegate.
DENIES TREATY, INSPIRED
FROM LONDON AND TOXIC
No Alliance Contemplated; Aims at
Peace, He Dramatically
7 Replies to Critics.

The four-power Pacific treaty, its
purposes and possibilities and the
manner. of its negotiation. passed
through another spectacular combat
Of argument and oratory yesterday
on tho floor of tho Senate.
Throughout tho battle Of wits the
burden OF defense. was carried by
Senator Underwood OF Alabama, the
democratic floor leader and a mem
ber of the American delegation to tho
arms conference. Hinged 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.
Letter From Secretary HurAes.
Among the weapons of argument
used by the Alabama senator was a
letter written to him by Secretary
Hughes. head of the American con-
ference plenipotentiaries. replying to
charges that the treaty resulted from
a British-Japanese plan to allay the
endorsements Of the>sAngIo-Japa-
nese alliance.
The argument duel which followed
the reading by Senator Underwood
Of the Secretary's letter and which
interposed itself in the senator's pre-
pared address was fought for an hour
between the Speaker and Senator
Robinson, democrat. Arkansas. who
originally had raised the question Of
the origin of the treaty and who de-
clared that the Secretary's letter had
not dispelled evidences that the four
London and Toxic. Other democrats
then Joined in the questioning of
their party leader, including Senator's
Reed OF Missouri, Glass Of Virginia.
Walsh of Montana and Watson of
Georgia. From the republican side Of
the chamber their efforts were sec.
onded by Senators Borah of idaho and
France Of Maryland. s.
No Alliance Contemplated.
His support Of the treaty. Senator
Underwood said, was actuated by the
same spirit that prompted him to
vote for the treaty OF Versailles with
it's league of nations He declared
no alliance was contemplated. but
added that he could see no objection
even to an alliance II it were based
on arbitration rather than force and
effaced dangers that threaten Amer
lean interests in the, Pacific. To re-
ject the pact because 1t does not
bind the signatories to employ force,
he asserted, would be to revert to
the reactionary philosophy of the
past.
The democratic leader conceded
that the negotiations leading up to
the treaty were carried on in "se-
crecy," but argued that such a course
was necessary in view of the Pc
culiar circumstances surrounding the
effort of the American delegation to
rid the world of the Anglo-Japanese
alliance. In the main, he said, the
arms conference was conducted more
openly than any similar consultation
In the history OF Ine World.
Further Information Asked.
Senator Robinson insisted. in turn,
that the provision for consultation
among the signatories to agree on a
course of action In case of aggres-
sion by an outside power" could
mean only that the force Of all four
was to be united against the ag-
gressor. When any such consulta-
ton took place, he argued. and any
one power signified that it was not
able to meet the attack alone, the
only means the others could suggest
was united action. HIS asked that
Mr.. Hughes now inform the Senate
why he had remained silent SO long
as to the method by which the treaty
was drafted.
Because of desire by many SEN
ators to complete work on an ap-
preparation bill. administration lead
ers did not carry out their purpose
to force a vote yesterday on the; first
of the proposed reservations, and the
treaty was laid. temporarily aside
without action. Senator Lodge Of
Massachusetts,, the republican leader.
announced, however. that tomorrow
he would attempt to secure an agree
ment for a time for voting, and,
should he fail, would hold the Sem
ate to "fong sessions" until the de-
bate had worn itself out.
Although they cared to mako 20