The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1922-02-23
PRESIDENT SAYS
NO SECRET NOTES
Cannot Give Out Facts in
Regard to Negotiation
of Treaties.
ALL AGREEMENTS OPEN
President Declares 1t Would
Not Be Compatible with Pub
lie Interests to Give Facts.
by Associated Press Leased wire.)

washington, u. C.-1reSldenG ndru-
ing, replying today to the Senate on
the Hitchcock resolution asking for in
foration relative to the negotiation of
the four power Pacific treaty, stated
it was impossible to furnish the re-
quested information because most of
the negotiations were conducted with
out the maintaining of record. The
President said it would not be COM
patible with public interests to dis
close the confidential negotiations Of
the treaty negotiators but he declared
that "there were no concealed under
standings and no secret exchanges Of
notes"
Almost co-incident with the arrival
of the Presidents letter at the Senate,
the Foreign Relations committee of
that body by a vote of ten to one
ordered favorably reported the treaty
between the United States and Japan
regarding the island of zap.
May Discuss On Floor.
The action followed two hour de-
bate in the committee and was taken
after several Republicans and Demo-
crat senator's had indicated they
would favor reporting the treaty to the
Senate but reserved the right to fur
Their discuss it on the floor. The sin
gle negative vote was cast by Senator
Pittman, Democrat, Nevda.
The Presidents reply to the Hitch
cook resolution which was adopted by
the Senate last week follows:
Responsive to Senate resolution
number 237 asking for records, min
utes, arguments, debates, converse
tions, etc, relating to the so-called
four power treaty, 1 have to advise
that it is impossible to comply with
the Senate's request. Many of the
things asked for in the resolution it
is literally impossible to furnish be-
cause there were many conversations
and discussions quite outside the con-
ference yet vital to its success. Ma
turally, these are without record.
Not for Public Interest.
"I do not believe it to be compatible
with public interests or consistent
with the amenities Of international
negotiations to attempt to reveal in
formal and confidential conversations
or discussions Of which no record was
kept, or to submit tentative sugges-
tions or informal proposals, without
which the arrival of desirable inter-
nations understandings would be
rendered unlikely if not impossible.
"While / am unable to transmit the
information requested, do however
take this opportunity to say most
emphaticalIy that there were no con-
cealed understanding and secret ex-
changes of notes. and there are no
commitments whatever except as APP
pear in the four power treaty itself
and the supplementary agreement
which are now in the hands of the
Senate"
Without discussion the Presidents
letter was referred to the foreign re-
lations committee when it was read
in the Senate, the motion being made
by Senator Hitchcock.
Students Urge Ratification.
Prompt ratification of the treaties
growing out of the Washington arms
conference and participation by the
Unitel States into the Genoa confer
ence, was urged in resolutions pre-
sented to President Harding today by
committee of students representing
235 universities and colleges. The COM
mittee was headed by Charles DENLY,
Jr., of Princeton, nephew of Secre-
tary DENLY and included the regional
directors of the National student
committee for the limitation of arm
ament. The resolutions were said to
be backed by 100000 college students
of both sexes.
Commentator of the spirit which
prompted Mr.. Wilson to propose the
League of Nations and the similar spir-
it which moved Mr.. Harding to call
the Washington conference because it
manifests a not distant possibility of
an organization of nations, adequately
prepared to adjust peacably interna-
tional difficulties" was expressed in
the resolutions.
The national student committee, the
delegation explained was organized to
stimulate interest in the discussion of
these problems and also other matters
of national concern.