The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1922-03-16
FOUR-PLY PACT
WORK Of HUGHES
Secretary liners That He Is Au-
thor of Document.
NOBODY PUT ANYTHING OVER
Says All Negotiations Relating to the
Pacific Pact Were Conducted
Within Limitations Defined by
the U. S. Government.

Washington, March 13.-Secretary
of States Hughes wrote the fOur-power
Pacific treaty.
The secretary himself volunteered
this information to Democrats. In
letter to Senator Underwood, Demo
cratic senate leader and member of
the American delegation, Secretary
Hughes disposes of the authorship is
sue and characterizes limitations that
the American delegates were induced
to accept a cunningly contrived for
eign scheme opposed to American in
terests as "a very poor and erroneous
conception of the work In connection
with the conference"
II understand" the secretary wrote,
that in the course of debate in the
senate upon the four-power treaty
questions have been raised with re-
spect to its authorship. 1t seems to
be implied that in some way the
American delegates have been imposed
upon, or that they were induced to ac-
cept some plan cunningly contrived by
others and opposed to our interests.
apart from the reflection upon the
competency Of the American delegates,
such intimations betray very poor
and erroneous conception of the work
In connection with the conference, no
part of which-whether within or out
side the conference meetings-was be-
gun, prosecuted, or concluded in in
trigue. Nothing could be farther from
the fact.
Nothing to Blush For"
at is, of course, wholly Inconsistent
with the amenities Of international in
tercourse that the informal and conf
dental suggestions and conversations
Incident to negotiations should be
stated, but the senate may be assured
that a full disclosure of everything
said or done in the course of the nego-
tiations would reveal nothing deroga-
tory to the part taken by any of the
American delegates or involve any
consideration or acceptance Of any
position not entirely consistent with
the traditional policies Of this govern
ment.
at should be remembered that the
four-power treaty dealt with a subject
the AngIo-Japanese alhance-which
as an agreement between two powers
competent to make and continue 1t,
was not and I'm the nature of things
could not be, appropriately placed
upon the agenda. Technically it was
~ a,pfararaa a
though the conference furnished an
excellent opportunity for conversa-
lions remedying it.
America Had Its Way.
"While I cannot, of course, under
take to state what was proposed or
suggested in confidence by any of the
delegates I think it entirely proper to
say that the negotiations relating to
the four-power treaty were conducted
within limitations defined by the
American government.
"The views of this government as
to the importance of the termination
of the Anglo-J0panese alliance had
been communicated long before the
conference met and it had also been
clearly stated that this government
could enter into no alliance or make
any commitment of the use of arms
or which would impose any sort of
obligation as to its decisions in future
contingencies. 1t must deal with any
eXigency according to its constitu-
tional methods.
"In preparation for the conference,
the American delegates reviewed the
matter thoroughly and the entire
course of the negotiations in connec-
ton with the four-power treaty was
In accord with those principles, and,
as l have said, within the limits which
we defined.
1.-THE treaty itself IS very short and
simple, and is perfectly clear 1t re-
Quires no commentary It's engage
ments are easily understood and no
ingenuity in argument or hostile crit
icism can add to them or make them
other or greater than its unequivocal
language sets forth. There are no
secret notes or understandings.
"In view Of this, the question Of au-
thorship is unimportant. 1t was
signed by four powers whose dele
gates, respectively, adopted 1t, all hav-
ing made various suggestions"