Arizona republican., 1922-02-11
Says
Arms Treaties
Not Alliances

address in submitting the arms con-
ference treaties TO the senate follows:
Mr.. President and Gentlemen Of
the Senate:
| have come to make report TO 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 trea-
ties which the United States and the
other powers participating in the
conference have negotiated and
signed and have announced to the
world. Apart from the very great
satisfaction in reporting to the SEN
ate, it is privilege as well as a duty
TO ask that advice and consent which
the constitution requires 10 make
these covenants effective.
Accompanying the treaties I bring
to you the complete minutes OF both
plenary sessions and committee
meetings, and copy OF the official
report made to me by the American
delegation TO the conference. Both
the complete minutes and the official
report of the American delegation are
new accompaniment TO the execu-
tive report of q treaty or treaties, but
they are fitting testimonials to that
open and simpler diplomacy for
which the world has asked, and the
practice of which contributed largely
10 the success Of the conference so
recently adjourned trust they will
facilitate that ample and helpful I'M
derstanding which is desirable in the
senate and reflect that understand
ing which was the keynote of the
conference itself.
ConfereAee Of Friends
The whole transaction is quite out
of the ordinary. I am not thinking
of the achievement, which i hope
the senate viii come TO sppraise
highly as I do ard as the world
seems to do. / am not thinking OF
the commendable processes by which
agreements were wrought. though
this was a conference wholly OF free
nations, exercising every national
right and authority, in which every
agreement was stamped with una
nimity. Indeed, it was a conference
of friends. proceeding in deliberation
and sympathy, appraising their
friendly and peaceful relations and
resolved TO maintain them and give
to the world new assurances OF
peace and actual relief from the bur-
dens OF excessive and competitive
armament. But the out of the ordi-
nary phases which I have in mind are
that the senate--indeed, the congress
has already advised in favor OF
one-and inferentiaily of two-of the
treaties laid before you today, and
the naval pact negotiated and signed
is in accordance with your expressed
wish. 1t calls a halt in the competi-
tive construction of capital ships in
the great navies of the world and af-
fords the first actual relief from
naval burdens which peoples have
been able TO acclaim since steam and
steel compined TO add to naval
strength in warfare.
Settles international Problem
But though the treaty recommend
ed to the congress marks the begin
ming OF a naval holiday and that
limitation Of naval armament which
accords with a world aspiration, the
particular justification OF this pro-
gressive and highly gratifying step
was the settlement OF the interna-
tional problems of the Pacific attend
ed by new understandings in place Of
menacing disagreements, and estab-
lished sureties instead of uncertain
ties which easily ight lead to con-
flict. Much rs IL was desirable TO
lift the burdens of naval armament
and strike at the menace OF competi-
tive construction and consequent ex-
penditure, the executive branch Of
the government, which must be
watchful for the nations safety. was
unwilling TO covenant reduction Of
armament until there could be plight
ed new guarantees of peace, until
there could be removed the probable
menaces OF conflict. Therefore all
the treaties submitted for your APP
nrfa NJ Vnl
ship one to another, that although
not interdependent, they are the COW
enants of harmony, of assurance, of
conviction, OF conscience and Of
unanimity. These We have believed
to be essential to perfect the fulfill
ment which the congress has in mind
AS a simple matter OF fact, all Of
the agreements, except those dealing
directly with the limitation of arma
ments. take the place OF various
lti-power treaties. arrangements or
understandings formal or informal,
expressed or implied, relating to mat
ters in the Pacific ocean i'm which all
the powers signatory were essentially
if not equally, concerned. The new
agreements serve TO put an end to
contradictions 10 remove antiquities,
and 10 establish clear understand
ings.
Desire For World Peaes
It is not necessary to remind you
that the conference work was not di-
rected against any power or group OF
powers. There we're no punishments
TO inflict, no rewards to bestow. Nut
ual consideration, and the common
welfare, and the desire for world
peace impelled. The conclusions
reached and the covenants written
neither require nor contemplate COM
pulsive measures against any power
in the world, signatory or non sigma
tory. The offerings are free will: the
conscience is that OF world opinion
the observance is a matter of national
honor.
1t was a helpful thing to have the
conference reveal how common our
human aspirations are and how easy
II is, when the task is properly ap
preached to reconcile our national
aspirations. There are mutual and
essential interests affecting the well
fare and peace of all nations. and
they can not be promoted by force
They can be revealed and magnified
in that understanding, which IL is
now proven, the conference of peace
promotes and the same understand
ing compulsion and despoilment hate
full in the eyes of mankind.
Treaties Submitted.
The treaties submitted, seven in
number are:
The covenant OF limitation to naval
armament between our republic. the
British empire, France, Italy and
Japan.
The treaty between the same pow
ers in relation TO the use of subma-
rines and noXious gases in warfare.
The treaty between the United
States the British empire France
and Iapap relat tiprv. fo their in p-tllar