Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-01-09

ate committee on foreign relations
at the White House, at Whlcn tne
Paris treaty was discussed for several
hours. was not wholly satisfactory 10
the committee; that President Wilson
subsequently refused to furnish the
Senate with much. information which
, was asked for and that the remaining
members of the American delegation
at Paris who were called as witnesses
by the committee were not wholly
Informed on all points because Presi-
dent Wilson did not always inform
them of the details which underiaid
his own decisions. In the present
case, half the American delegation
comes from the Senate, the conference
itself has been held IN Washington
under the very eye of the Senate and
the disposition of the President and
the delegation seems to be to conceal
nothing which ought to be known
concerning the proposed treaties and
agreements.
Criticism Withheld.
Aside from putting the country on
the new treaties. Senator Borah and his
associates are now withholding their
ammunition for several good reasons.
They quickly discovered that the four
power Pacific pact was, only one Of a
number of important achievements Of
the conference: that this pact, standing
alone. did not offer sufficient ground
for the overthrow of the work Of the
conference as a whole. of which it was
the hub so far as naval disarmament
was concerned: that the country gen.
orally approved the American plan for
the limitation of naval ornaments
which has now been consummated as
/ to capital ships, and. in part, as to
' .,,sN., hny.
Sciously or not, the various agreements
of the Washington conference were so
interdependent on each other as to con-
stitute a barrier against the ratifica-
ton of one and the rejection of another,
just as was the case in the Paris peace
treaty and the league of nations cove
nant. Furthermore. their Examinations
against the four-power pact brought no
substantial reply from the adminiStra-
ton or the delegation. and they quickly
discovered that the country was not
in a mood to make up its mind on the
eX parte statements of the opposition
when, as a matter of fact. public opin-
| ion demanded constructive results if
they could be honorably and safely
had.
Truce in Senate.
Except for an occasional exclama-
/ ton against the work of the confer
ence, much in the nature of law
yer's objection to the introduction of
evidence for the purpose of making
up the record. there is now truce in
the Senate on conference affairs. 1t
is not an agreed truce, but one forced
by circumstances unfavorabIe to the
opposition. When the conference ad-
journs both the friends and opponents
of the treaties and agreements of the
conference will move into their 'front.'
line trenches, there will be a pre-
liminary skirmishing to develop
facts and information upon which the
issue can be Joined, and then will
come forensic battle which will
recall the, debate on the Versailles
treaty. Both sides will draw recruits
from both parties in the Senate, the
debate will last for several weeks,
but there is no indication now that
any of the agreements of the Wash
ington gathering will fail of accept
ance by the Senate unless there is a
woeful mistake made during the next
two weeks.
Copyright lp23)