Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-03-03
4-P0WER TREATY
ATTACK OPENED
BY SENATE TRIO
Hitchcock, France and
Borah Raise Objections
to acific Agreement.
Just an Alliance to Aid
England Shuttle Off
Jap Bonds, Is Charge.

Washington, March 2.-Fire on thr
four power Pacific treaty was opened
in the senate Thursday from both re
publican and democratic quarters, wher
it was called up for debate after ratifl
cation Wednesday Of the Yap treaty
The debate. however. was declared te
be only skirmish, with the real fight
ing scheduled for next week.
Declarations against the four power
Hitchcock, of Nebraska, ranking de-
mocrat on the foreign relations com
mittee, and Senator's Borah, of Idaho,
and France, Of Maryland, republican
''irreconcilables'' in the Versailles
treaty fight.
Hitchcock to Support Others
Senator Hitchcock. who supported
the Yap treaty, said he would vote
for the naval limitation and Chinese
treaties also. but would not support
the Pacific pact unless it were materi-
ally changed. Senators Borah and
opposition to the Pacific treaty.
Plans of republican leaders for pro-
ceeding with the four power treaty ap
parently surprised the opposition.
When it and its supplement, the latter
defining the scope Of the territory en-
braced, were laid before the senate,
Senator Lodge, of Massachusetts, re-
publican leader, proposed that their
consideration be deferred, at least until
Friday, unless some senator desired to
discuss the treaties. Mr.. Lodge said
he did not desire to force" action and
said he would not open the debate, but
intended to hear first from the oppo-
sition. Senator Hitchcock, who is to be
absent for a few days, therefore took
the floor and launched the attack.
Hitchcock Attacks Secretary
Senator Hitchcock attacked what
he described as the secrecy with which
the four-power treaty was negotiated.
He declared he had voted for ratifi-
cation Of the Yap treaty and would
support the naval and Chinese treaties.
but have reluctantly come to the
conclusion that / can not vote for the
ratification Of the four-power treaty,
unless changes are made by amendment
or reservations are adopted to have
certain objections remover" he added.
This treaty was conceived in secrecy
and its genesis suggests an old-fash-
ioned and highly Objectionable alliance
The four-power treaty, Senator
Hitchcock said, was not in the arms
conference call or on the agenda.
1t appeared, he declared, that the
principal object was to aid Great
Britain in getting rid of the Anglo
japanese alliance.
Predicts 1t Will Bring War
A reservation proposed in the for
eign relations committees deliberations
by Senator Brandegee, republican, Con-
necticut, was advocated by Senator |
Hitchcock. He proposed insertion, |
either by amendment or reservation.
Of the word "unprovoked' in the OBJ
legation clause. Without this change, |
he said, he could not support the /
treaty, asserting that the United |
States should be obligated under the |
treaty only in case of unprovoked ag-
gression against the signatory powers. |
Senator Borah said that the alleged |
defect could not be cured either by re
servation or amendment and Senator
France declared the treaty would bring
America into a terrible war;