The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1922-02-24
NAVAL AND SUB
TREATIES 0. KID
Far Eastern Settlement Is An
nounced; Arms Farley Believed
Near Conclusion.
SHANTUMG PLAN IS ADOPTED
Pact Presented by Secretary Hughes
is Approved by the Fifth Plenary
Session of the Conference
at Washington.

|
Washington, Feb. 3.-The arma-
ments conference wiped clean the
naval limitation half of it's slate and
made considerable Roadway i'm clear
ing up the Far Eastern side at it's
fifth plenary session.
The cleanup leaves only two mat
tiers of Importance TO be settled be-
for the Far Eastern phase of the
conference is completed and the
treaties embodying results there ready
for submission at plenary session.
The plenary session approved:
The naval treaty between the
United States Great Britain, France,
Italy and Japan.
A second treaty between the same
powers abolishing poison gas in war
rare and outlawing submarine at
| tacks on merchant vessels.
The settlement of the Shantung
issue between China and Japan.
Secretary of State Hughes pre-
sented the naval treaty. When it
bad been read the secretary said
that while it was necessary for the
powers to ratify it through their con-
stltutional agencies before it could
become effective, he thought it well
FOR the conference to express it's ap-
prevail. He called the roll there was
no dissenting voice. and 1t was ap-
proved.
"This treaty ends-it absolutely
ends-the race in competitive naval
armament" said Secretary Hughes.
I'm it we are taking the greatest for
ward step In history toward the reign
OF peace. It is perhaps the most
important international undertaking
ever completed. 1t is important be-
cause 1t means we no longer talk
about limiting armament-we are do
Ing it by this treaty.
while there have been some
changes in the original proposal
am glad to say that the spirit of the
American plan remains unimpaired."
Applause broke out as he sat down
after an exhaustive analysis of the
treaty, and then the heads of other
delegations rose to express their ma
tlonal sentiments on it's completion.
M. Albert Sarraut, head of the
French delegation, defended Frances
course in the negotiations. which at
several stages held up the confer.
ence. Much of the criticism of French
acts, he said, was due to German
propaganda. II bring the adhesion
of the French delegation to the
treaty." he said "This adhesion is
sincere and confident"
The second treaty on submarines
and poison gas was presented by
Elfhu Root of the American delegation
and was Immediately adopted.
"You will note" said Mr.. Root
that 1t does not attempt to codify
international law. 1t merely attempts
to state in unmistakable Language
that tie use of submarines against
noncombatants, innocent women and
children Is stigmatized by all the civ.
ilized world.
"Cynics have saiu such agreements
could not be enforced, but 1t must be
remembered that behind governments
stands the public opinion Of the world.
and there is nothing more powerful in
the worl2 than public opinion.
This treaty is an attempt to state
the clear opinion of the civilized world
that never ggain shall women and chill
dren be murdered on the high seas, as
on tho In; ils:::a.'
Secretary Hughes then reported on
the work CT lie conference on the
various resolutions adopted affecting
China.
He read first the resolution pledg.
ing the removal of foreign post offices,
adopted on December T. There was
no objection and it was readopted.
Next he read the rcsoluti IN respect
ing the rronoSe.l removal OF foreign
troops from China
Then the Root open-door PROPOSE
ton, providing for an international
board Of reference in China to decide
disputed questions, was put and ap-
proved, pledging no discrimination
on Chinese railways.
Then followed in rapid succession
the reading and formal adoption of ell
the other resolutions, previously agreed
upon, respecting characterization of
China's military forces, registration of
Chinese treaties and agreements with
the Washington conference.
When this was concluded Secretary
Hughes formally announced that the
cboot,,no controversy was SeftIod and