Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-02-20

the one man who can give it should
be brought before the committee.
Senator Hitchcock, Nebraska,
ranking Democratic member of the
committee and author Of the resolu-
ton of inquiry, plans to leave Wash
ington Monday for a Western trip
which will probably keep him away
until the end of the week. In his
absence the effort to secure addi-
tional data is expected by commit
tee members to be taken up by sew
eral Republican senators. including
Borah of Idaho. johnson of Califor-
MIA and Brandegee of Connecticut.
In addition to these three men,
bers, Senators Moses of New Hamp-
shire and Mccormick of Illinois also
are Republican survivors of the old
''irreconcilable battalion of the Ver-
sailles Treaty fight and the five to-
gether make up an element of the
Republican committee membership
which the leaders are watching with
particular interest.
All five have expressed some
doubts about provisions of the four
Power treaty, and it is realized that
should they effect a working agree
ment with the Democratic members
the result would be a combination
strong enough to dictate committee
action.
The exact purpose of the Demo-
Gratis, however, still is a matter of
conjecture. Senator Underwood. as
Democratic leader, is confident that
few Democratic votes will be record
cd against the treaty, and even Sem
ator Hitchcock has indicated that he
would vote for it after supporting
reservations. The attitude of the
Democratic senators classed as dyed
in the-wOO supporters of Woodrow
Wilson remains a waiting one. and
all of them declare that, so far, the
former President has shown no de-
sire to take a hand in the ratifca-
ton discussions.
Both Senator'S Borah and Brandegee
are considering drafts of reservations
to the four-power pact, which may
come before the committee during the
coming week. In the m4n, their sug-
gostions are said to have centcrad
about these four qualifications:
That the treaty shall not be con-
strucd requiring use of force with
out express congressional authorize
ton: that violation of the treaty ny
any signatory shall automatically ter
inmate it as to the others; that adj
justments reached under the treaty
shall lie subject to Senate ratiiica-
ton and that the provisions for &C
ton when rights arc threatened by an
outside power shall apply only when
the threat is "unprovoked."
While the Senate and the committee
members also made plans to secure
more information about other trea tics
in the conference series and it devel-
opcd that the move to seek the advice
of American naval authorities regard
ing the Notifications article of the na-
val limitation treaty had gained fur
Their support. Senator Johnson indi-
Gated that he would take formal acton
next week to bring naval experts be-
fore the committee.
A report of the Senate naval COM
mittce, made in May of last year. re-
garding the annual naval appropriA-
ton bill, will be quoted by the Cali
foraia senator to support his request.
In that report the naval committee
declared il had been advised by naval
men that Guam was "of the grea test
strategical Importance" as naval
base, whereas under the treaty the
United States pledges not to erect fur
Their Notifications there.
Mr.. Johnson wants. to question the
men from whom the naval committee
got its advice and ask them what has
occurred to change the situation.