New-York tribune., 1922-02-18
Johnson Asks
Expert View on
Pacific Forts
Abandonment Of Bases and
Four-Power Treaty Chief
Problems Before Senate,
He Says, Seeking Light
Predict Favorable Report
Committee Finishes Reading
Of Agreements and Takes
Up Proposed Reservations

IRON Inc 7ribune'8 W1Shin0fon Bnrcnn
WASHINGTON, Feb. 17-The aues-
ton Of whether the Unitcd States L.
left at disadvantages in the Pacific as
the result of the naval agreement was
raised in the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee to-day by Senator Hiram
Jchnson. Of Califo MIA, who asked why
the United States had agreed to aban-
don fertilization Of the Philippines 8
"nd Guam and the building up Of
naval bases there while the British
were lett free to fortify Singapore and
the Japanese could 90 ahead with
forts and naval bass in their own ISL
ands. Senator johnson said he wanted
to know the vicws OF the experts on
the agreement concerning fortifcations
and naval bases and whether they felt
this country was justified In leaving
itself without fort fcations and bases
in the Pacific 10 the westward Of Ha-
vail
The California Senator did not inii-
cate whether he purposed TO seek mod
'ication Of the naval agreement In re-
sne"t to these matters, but stressed the
poirt that he want-d d all the light pos
siolc thereon. He took the position
that the four-power treaty and the
n@onrcnt OF fortifcations in the
IMPORTANT questions arising from the
conference which were before the Sen
ate, and that the fullest information
should be had regarding them.
Favorable Report Expected
The naval agreement was read
through by the comm ttee esterday
and no opposition aroused. The utter
ances Of Senator Johnson are looked
port from the committee on the naval
agreement, but as pointing in all prob
ability to much discussion over it n
tie Senate, and especially much de
late over fcrtifcat;ona and naval
bases
With respect to Singapore it was
pointed out by Senator Lodge and
others inat it is not geographical ly in
the Pacific, and hence nat n the jlris-
diction OF the conference. Senate,
Johnson replied that while in the strict
geographical sense il was not in the
Pacific. It was, in fact, the great gate
way to the Pacific from the East
II is the contention of Senator John
son that the United States pract cally
has given up it's hold on the Pacific tc
Senate must consider not the effect
on the situation to-day or tomorrow
but the position in which the United
States will be IN the Pacific ten 0;
twenty years or more hence.
The comm tee. in addition TO com
pleting the reading of the treaties, dis
cussed reservations to the four-powel
treaty. Senators Brandegee and Nc
Corriic',, Republicans. were Of the
opinion that the propos sed reservation
to Article II should cover two points -
no moral obligation to use free and nc
action by the United Stat i car-y ne
OFT the guarantees of the sres. with
out the consent # Con~ress. = third
prop4sit on which is supported by the
advocates of reservations is to the
natories should violate tee four-powel
terms o. the treaty.
Members of the committee also dis
cussed the Chinese policy treaty. One
question raised was how the fact that
China was not allowed under the cls-
toms treaty to control her own Gus
toms comported with the idea of pre-
serving ter integrity.
Lodge Talks With President
The committee adjourned shortly
after noon to meet Monday. Senator
Lodge. chairman, saw the President
regarding the Hitchcock resolution call
ing for data on the four-rower docu-
ment The President will wireless Sec
retary Hughes 10 find out whether there
is any information in the form Of min
utes, or other data not yet made pub
lie
In connection with tNe treaty gossip
about the Senate it became known some
of the Democrats are sitting up nights
figuring how they can turn the tables
against the Republicans for the latter's
rejection of the Versailles treaty. They
propose to add to Article II Of the folr.
power treaty one or more reservations
as nearly as possible like the Lodge
reservations to Article x of the Leeg K
Of Nations covenant against use o!
force. After that, they will vote fol
the treaty.
President Harding's position as t.
reservations was again made clear to-
day. He is not captious over the cross
ing of "t's" or the dotting of "i's." HI
supported reservations to the Versatile.
treaty in the Senate and is not preju
diced against them. In tho presen
case he does not believe there is any
thing in the pending treaties that re
quires reservations but is not putin:
himmself in the attitude of passing