The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-02-15

President Urges Re-
publican Majority
to Approve Treaties
Framed by Confer
encc

Washington, Feb. 10 (By the AS
sociated Press) .-Presidcn Hard
ing today asked th. senate TO give
approval TO the arms conference
treaties in order that. Americas
professed desire TO rid the world
Iof war may not become "a hollow
mockcry.'
II we can not join in making
effective these covenants for
peace" he said and Stanlp this
conference with Americas approx
a, we shall discredit the Influence
OF the republic. render future ef-
forts futile and unlikely. and write
discouragement where today the
world is ready 10 acclaim new
hope
Delivering his message in per
son. in & voice and u.annor that
betoAcned deep emotion the presi-
dent was answered repeatedly by
applause from floor and galleries.
He asked that ratification be given
without delay and before he left
THE capital senate machinery was
set in motion 20 has:en g vote
Five principal treaties and two
supplemental agreements. the frui-s
Ition OF - weeks of negotiation just
concluded here. We're IL the bundle
Of international covenants taken to
the senate chamber ny Mr.. Hard
ing. They propose. III S.;Grt. Il li.ni-
tation on naval armament, new
bill OF right for China aud four
power concord TO preserve peace in
the Pacific. -
All Of these agreements; said the
president, are related portions OF
effort ''to put an end g contfadic-
tions. to remove antiquities. and
establish clear understandings.
No Alliance Involved.
None of them. he asserted, com
mits the American sovernment 10
any kind of alliance. eatanglement
OF. involvment."
After the address was, completed.
both Republican, ard Democratic
leaders predicted tl.at the treaties
would be ratified without long de-
bate and by substantial rnajorities.
Only one. the four lower Pacific
pact, is threatened nov with Or
ganized opposition and its oppon-
ents have not yet dem ons,rlted how
large q vote they cau command
against the strength cf artN lead
erS on both sides OF the chamber.
Actual consideration o: the cove
nants is to begin tontci row at q
meeting Of the forc-gn relations
committee. to which: they were re-
terred without deLaie ard on mo-
ton Of the committee chairman.
Senator Lodge Of Afassao haSetts. 1t
is though unlikely, how e*er, that
tomorrow meetings VII do more
than make q preliminary eXami-
nation Of the infoImat:"n which
comes before it along With the
treaties.
Included in this data iS q tran
script OF the procso dinss OF the
conference and lis committees and
4 long report by the .Anrricarf ~ttet-
egation to the conference declar-
ing the treaties are the result OF
the world state al L,iiri tending
away from suspension aud appre-
hension and toward rlotraf trust
and confidence" These documents
were given to the senate by the
president for It's :,';:Gan' during
-, Il
Prompt action was requested by
the president because. nc said, II
would be Impossible /" shape the
naval policy Gf the ""vrrnment on-
ii, it was known whether the naval
treaty IS 10 become 1ll... accepted
covcnan. OF the ration Until tfS
whole series is ratified. he decIaf-
I'd. the necessary re;l& IisS;inentS can
not be made lin full confidence.
FIRST Actual Rriic!.
The naval agre .n.",s w. Hard-
ing characterized as the FIRST sc
,ua, relief from naval burdens
which peoples have been able to
acclaim s;nce steam and steel COM
bined 10 add to naval strength IN
warfare" He predicted that tire
Chinese treaties would so 4 long
way toward realizing OF the long
cherished hope for stable anu
free China.
Eut the greater part Of his adj
dress the president reserved FOR the
four power Pacific pact, AGAINST
which opposition has beeo organ
izins both on the Republican and
Democratic sides Of the senate. he
nounded the desk and put an add
ed vigor into his words "a he de-
clarcI the treaty contains no war
commitment" and no alliance nor
written or moral obligation 10 1oin
in defense.
The American nation. said MI
Harding. had shown il desired no
,:nch commitments, and in conse-
oucnce the unwillinGness OF TINS
government TO enter the league ol
nations had been berne constantly
in mind rs the conference treaties
were negotiated. On the other mana
he declared the United States must
take It's share in contributing te
good world relationship. Adding
q personal word. he recalled ms
own experiences in She senate ana
said that he since had come to nave
= closer view Of world relation
ship.
Either these treaties must have