The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1922-02-24
Takes Stand A gain s t
Reservations Changing
Meaning of Treaty. :
SITUATION LIKE
THAT OF WILSON'S
Rally Sought to Defeat
Drastic Movement of
"IrrecOncilables."


President Harding came to grips
yesterday with the Senate "irre-
concilables" over reservations to
the four-power Pacific treaty.
The disagreement reached such
proportions that 1t IL impossible to
predict when the pacts negotiated
by the armament conference will
emerge from the Foreign Relations
Committee. That an agreement will
be effected eventually is regarded
as virtually certain. but the pros.
pect is that there will be consider
able delaX,
.The situation is not unlike that
which marked the early stages of
the controversy between President
Wilson and the Senate over the
Versailles treaty. President Hard
ing let It be known yesterday that
while he does not oppose interpre-
tative or clarifying reservations.
he is strongly against reservations
which. in effect. would change the
meaning of the pact. This new
definition OF the Presidents posi-
tion was carried to the Senate by
Senator New. of Indiana, after a
conference at the White House.
Desires Rally of support.
Senator New declared It was the
Presidents desire that all friends
of the administration should rally
in opposition to all drastic reserva-
tions.
The 'irreconciIable" reservation,
submitted by Senator Brandegee,
of Connecticut. Republican. comes
within the class of reservations
which seek to change the meaning
OF the treaty, according to Senator
News Interpretation OF the Presi-
dents attitude. Supporters of the
Brandegee reservation. who have
also conferred with the President,
think otherwise. They say that the
President has assured them he
would not OPPOSE the reservation.
Senator Lodge, Bepublican leader
and chairman Of Che Foreign Rela-
tions Committee, who as a member
OF the American delegatiion to the
armament conference helped to
negotiate the four-power pact, also
appeared to have undergone a
change of position concerning reser-
vations. On Tuesday. he was re-
ported as willing to accept the
Brandegee reservation. He had a
conference with President Harding
yesterday and upon his return to
the Capitol submitted a new reser-
walton to the Foreign Relations
Committee for consideration as a
substitute for Mr.. Brandesee's.
U. s. Commitment Avoided.
He told members of the commit
tee tn he
strictly confidential. but it is un-
derstood to read substantially at
follows:
The United States understands
that neither the preamble nor the
terms of the treaty contemplate any
commitment to the use of armed
force. any alliance, any written or
moral obligation to join in defense
or any expressed or implied COM
mitment to arrive at amy agree
ment except in accordance with
constitutional methods"
The language Of the reservation
is almost identical with that OF
President Harding's own interpre-
tation of the four-poWer pact as
set forth in his speech 10 the Senate
in submitting the seven treaties.
Senator Brandegee and Senator
Borah have repeatedly said tina,
they would be satisfied with the
four-power pact if they were sure
the Presidents Interpretation was
absolutely correct. Nevertheless
they showed no special eagerness
to accept the reservation when SEN
ator Lodge laid it before them. The
hitch comes over the words "excep,
In accordance with constitutions al
methods"
The Brandegee irreconcila Bile
resolution uses the words "excep,
with the consent of Congress-
Fears tn Tie HAMS.
President Harding, II is under.
stood. fears that this provision
would tie the hands of the execu.
tive in dealing with matters aris.
ing under the four-power pact.