The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1922-03-11
Alabama Senator Says
That Ratification of f.
Power Pact Will Be
Necessary to Preserve
Peace.

Washington, March 11.-Describing
the four power Pacific treaty as the
real treaty of peace" of the arms con-
ference. Senator Underwood of Ala
bama. the Democrat Senator leader
and member of the American dele;
cation to the conference, told the
Senate today that he would vote for
the pact's ratification in the same
spirit which actuated him to support
the treaty of Versailles and the
League OF Nations
The real issue. the Democratic
leader declared, was whether the
United States was ready to give it's
sanction TO an arrangement for peace
by mutual understanding or desires
to continue the opportunity for was
that has threatened us in the past
two decades.
Mr.. Underwood asserted that he did
not regard the treaty as an alliance,
but added that even ii it were, and
were founded on arbitration rather
than on force, he would support it. To
argue on the other hand. that because
il was not based on force it was val
uelass was was declared by the Ala
bama senator to he rcverting to the
philosophy of past ages
Recounting how he had supported
the League of Nations, he said he had
approached the work of the arms con-
ference ready TO welcome any new ef-
fort to establish peace by interna-
tional understanding rather than by
the power of the sword.
"The four power treaty" he con-
tinued represents a political settle
ment which undoubtedly was neces-
sary before the treaty providing for
the Limitation of ornaments was
signed; that is, if the agreement toi
limit armaments was intended to
mean more than a mere saving of
money to the nations who had en-.
gagged in the wild race of building
battleships.
The terms of the treaty clearly
call for a conference to consider diff
hculties that may raise just as the
conference on limitation of arma-
nents was called in Washington some
months ago. 1t is conference in
which all of the four powers must
agree and none of the powers will be
bound in advance in any way. In
other words. the agreements that are
reached must be by the unanimous
consent of all.
The opponents of the ratification
of this treaty in the appear to base
their objections on two grounds, eX-
pressing positions that are opposed
Cne to the other. 1t is asserted that
the treaty in effect is an alliance be-
tween the four great powers for often
sive and defense purposes. or, at least.
it is contended we will be drawn into
that position in the end and that we
may be forced into war without our
consent. maintain that there is
rothing in the treaty itself that JUS
titles such an Interpretation bein.s
placed upon it; that an agreement by
man or a nation to respect the
rights of his neighbers is an obliga-
ton that relates to his own conduct
and does not bind him to aggressive
action because the other party to the
contract, whose rights he has agreed
to respect. becomes involved in diff
/ fiCulties.
! But the question is not left here.
The foreign relations committee of
the Senate has moved a reservation
to the treaty. which. beyond a doubt
{ will be, accented by the Senate, which
reads as follows:
1.-The United States understands
( that under the statement in the pre-.
amble, or under the terms of this
/ treaty. there is no commitment to
armed force. no alliance. no obliga
ton. to join in any Defense
/ When the treaty is ratified with
/ this understanding on the part of our
government, what ground is left to
those who contend the treaty is an
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