The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1922-04-06
NOT BOUND 10 GO TO WAR
IN FOUR POWER TREATY


That the four-power treaty now
before the Senate does not bind the
United States to go to war for the
benefit OF other powers that also
sign that document is attested by
DR.. David Jayne Hill. formerly Am
bassador to Germany. and one of the
leading authorities of the world on
international affairs. He saws:
Objections offered in the Senate
and elsewhere to the four-power
treaty negotiated and signed at
Washington assume that there Is
involved in II. II not in it's language
at least In its implications, a pledge
In certain contingencies to resort to
war for the protection of the rights
OF the signatories against the ag
gression of any other power.
"In presenting the treaty to the
conference for its approval at the
fourth plenary session, Senator
Lodge stated:
There is no provision for the use
of force to carry out any of the
terms OF the agreement and no mill
tary or naval sanction turks any
where in the background or under
cover OF these plain and direct
clauses
1T is certain. therefore, that any
thing even approaching a pledge in
any circumstances to resort to war
was not intended TO be included or
involved in this treaty. The cate
gorical statement to the contrary
was made by Senator Lodge not as
personal opinion or the interpret
alton of the American negotiators
a hui he -
all who had participated in the ne
gotiations; for he spoke in the name
OF all the representatives of the
powers who had made agreement
which he was delegated by them to
present TO the full conference. His
statement was a part of the report
and became a part of the record of
the proceedings. No contrary inter-
probation was expressed at the time
or since by any of the plenipotenti-
aries who framed the treaty or who
voted upon its adoption. Acceptance
was unanimous and publicly com
mitted all to the Interpretation which
the reporter gave in presenting the
treaty.
ut appears therefore, almost sup
erfluous to take notice of the con-
TIA lHdt lHt treaty uOtS
| by implication involve a resort to
war in certain circumstances that
| may arise. II Is. of course, undeni-
able that an aggression might occur
on the part of some other power
| upon the rights of the signatories of
| this treaty that would call for and
fully justify military action by the
signatory powers jointly or separate
| I.v
ariye from the aggression of a pow
er not named in the treaty upon
| some other power not named in the
treaty. and the United States might
decide at such time to employ its
Navy and its Army to repress the
| aggressor. This IL might do without
any treaty, as 1t did in entering up
on the war with Germany. 1t is in
States had not been attacked by
Germany this country would have
refrained from military intervention
1t in the course of the recent wal
the Imerial German Government hat
invaded Canada and taken posses
sion of its soil. 1t is, therefore
sophistical for anyone to say tina
conditions might arise in the Paci
fic ocean which, If this treaty were
ratified, would involve this NatioI
in war, and therefore it should no
be ratified. 1t is impossible 70
human foresight to know what con
ditions may yet arise in that oceal
which would render it necessary 70
tho United States to employ 1t
Army and Navy there or elsewher
either with a treaty or without il
"The chief matter deserving o
consideration in connection with tn
ratification of this treaty is the ef
feet of the treaty upon war an
peace in the Pacific. Admittedly It
terms contain no engagement in an
conditions to use armed force. o.
the contrary they provide for mu
tual respect by the signatories TO
= one another's rights"