The New York herald., 1922-02-11


THE SENATE:
/ have come to make report 10 you
Of the conclusions of what has been
termed the Washington Conference
on the Limitation of Armament. and
to lay before you the series of treaties
which the United States and the other
Powers participating in the confer
ence have negotiated and signed. and
have announced to the world. Apart
from the very great satisfaction In
reporting to the Senate. II Is & privi-
lego as we'll as duty 10 ask that
advice and consent which the Consti-
tuition requires to make these cove
nants effective.
Accompanying the treaties ] bring
TO you the complete minutes of both
plenary sessions and conmittee
meetings, and copy OF the official
report madc to me. by the American
delegation 70 the conference. Both
the complete minutes and the official
report of the American delegation are
rev accompaniments to the executive
report of a treaty or treaties, but
they arc fitting testimonials to That
open and simpler diplomacy for which
the world has asked and the practice
of which contributed largely to the
success of the conference so recently
adjourned I trust they Will facilitate
that ample and helpful understanding
which is desirable in the Senate ana
reflect that understanding which was
the keynote of the conference itself.
The whole transaction Is cutie out
OF the ordinary. ] am not thinking
of the achievement which | hope the
Senate will come TO appraise hignly
as I do. and as the world seems to
do. I am rot thinking Of the conf
mendable processes by whicr agree
n,ents were wrought. though this was
a conference wholly Of free nations.
exercising every national right and
authority, IN which every agreement
was stamped With unanimity, Indeed,
Il was n conference -of- friends. pro-
ceeding in deliberationf and sympathy,
appraisIng their friendly and peace
ful relations and resolved 20 maintain
them and give 10 the world Few es-
surances OF peace and actual rellet
from tirc burdens of excessive and
competitive armament.
But the out Of the ordinary phases
which have in mind are that the
Senate-indeed, the Congress--has al
ready advised in favor or one--and
inferentially OF two---of the treaties
laid before you to-day. and the naval
pact negotiated and signed Is in ac-
cordance with your expressed wish. IL
calls n halt In the competitive con-
struction OF capital ships In the great
navies OF the world. and affords the
first actual relief from naval burdens
which peoples have been able to ac-
claim since steam and steel combined
to add to naval strength In warfare.
But though the treaty recommended
bv the Congress marks the beginning
of a naval holiday and that limitation
OF naval armament which accords with
a world aspiration, the particular
Justification of this progressive and
highly gratifying step was the settle
ment OF the international problems OF
the Pacific, attended by new under
standings in place of menacing dis
agreements. and established sureties
instead Of uncertainties which easily
might lead 10 conflict.
Much as it was desirable TO lift tho
burdens OF naval armament and strike
at the menace Of competitive construc-
zion and consequent expenditure. the
executive branch OF the Government.
which must be watchful for the ma
tion's safety. was unwilling 10 cove
nant n reduction OF armament until
there could be plighted new guaran-
ties OF peace. until there could be re-
moved the probable menaces OF con
fict Therefore all the treaties sub
mitted for your approval have such
important relationship. one TO another,
that. though not interdepcndent. they
are the covenants Of harmony. OF as
surance. of conviction. Of conscience,
-. NO ta.t he
Ileyed TO be essential to perfect tho
fulfrment which the Congress has In
mind.
As n simple matter Of fact, all OF
the agreements. except those dealing
directly with the limitation of arma-
ment take the place OF various multi
Power treaties, arrangements or un-
derstandings. formal or informal. ex-
pressed or implied. relating TO mat
ters in the Pacific Ocean. IN which all
the Powers srnatory were essentially.
~ not equally, concerned. The new
agreements serve to put an end to
contradictions, 10 remove antiquities
and establish clear understandings.
No matter what mental reserva-
tions may have existed. or what
doubts may have prevailed because
here was an experiment new in many
phases. all OF the Powers came to the
conference knowing II was TO deal
with very practical situations affect
ing their international relations. There
was mutual interest. quite apart from
the greater achievement for world
peace. and n way to common under
standing was found TO be practical
and speedily arranged.
- II II has developed n new world
school of diplomacy, let II be SO called.
I. revealed tho ends aimed at In the
very beginning and pointed the way
70 their attainment. The Powers in
conference took tho world Of the Pa
cifc as they found II In fact. They
dealt with actualities by voluntary
and unanimous agreement and have
added 20 mankind's assurances and
hopefully advanced international
peace.
II Is worth while saying that the
Powers In this conference sought no
concert 20 disposscss any Power OF rs
rights or property. MI the sigma
tories have givcr up certain rights
which they mad. as their contribution
to concord and peace. but at no sacri-
lice OF national pride. with no regret
or resentment to later flame in con-
flict. Some relinquished certain rights
or prerogatives which they had as
serted. notably in the settlement Of
the Shantung controversy. dealt with
in n covenant quite apart from the