Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-02-24
new RESERVATION
TO 4-POW{R PACT
OPENS WAY T0V0TE
Senate Committee Will Act
Tomorrow, as White House
Gives Approval.
COMPROMISE SHORTER
THAN ORIGINAL TEXT
Definitely Defines Limit of U. S.
Obligation and Eliminates "Con-
sent of Congress.

SS0s W COAS ACSSs
modified blanket reservation to
the four-power Pacific treaty, said to
be satisfactory both to President
Harding and to a majority of the
members of the Senate foreign rela-
tions committee, was debated by the
committee today and an agreement
reached to vote on the treaty itself
and all proposed reservations at to-
morrow's session.
The new reservation was laid be-
fore the committee by Senator Bran
degee, republican, of Connecticut.
after a conference with President
Harding.
The Connecticut senator was said
rot to have represented it as embody-
ing the Presidents views, but the un-
derstanding of committee members
was that it would be acceptable to
the White House.
Specifies No Pledge of Force.
The text of the reservation follows:
The United States understands
that under the statement in the
preamble or under the terms of
to armed force. no alliance, no OBJ
legation to join in any defense.
Although apparentely acceptable to
most of the republican and democrat
ic reservdtionistS on the committee.
the reservation according to todays
discussion Will not receive unanimous
committee approval. Senator Johnson.
republican, California. was said to
have shown opposition during the
t<,l
that Senator Borah. republican. of
Idaho, who was absent, would take
a similar position.
The compromise reservation is
more direct and shorter than the
original -Brandegee blanket proposal
members previously had indicated
their support.
Under the original reservation the
United States would have set forth
moral OF legal obligation under
the treaty or any adjustments re-
sulting from it without the consent
of Congress-"
Particular reference to the pre-
amble of the treaty is said to have
been made in the new draft because
the preamble states that the agree
lnent is made with view to the
preservation of the general peace
and the maintenance Of the rights
of the signatory powers The word
maintenance does not appear.
however, among the commitments OF
the treaty proper.
johnson Would Define Yap.
Committee acceptance of the COM
promise. il formally agreed to tomor-
row. is expected to shorten the reSer-
walton fight which was developing in
the Senate. although # appears GER
tain that various other proposed res
crvations will be brought forward
both in committee and on the Senate
floor and will lead to considerable de-
bate. Senator Johnson already has
one pending in the committee which
would attempt to define the word
right" as used in the treaty.
Final favorable action on the res
ervation and the treaty in the COM
nittee IS not expected to result in an
immediate report to the Senate, the
leaders indicating that they will hold
all the remaining arms conference
treaties in committee until a report on
all of them is ready. 1t is the hope OF
the leaders to have such report COM
rleted by the end of next week, by
debate will be concluded on the sepa-
rate treaty with Japan relating to the
Island of zap
Today the Senate met an hour ear
lier than usual, in order to expedite
the Yap treaty debate, the treaty be-
- =
leaders hoping for early action.
P1ttman Opposes Plan.
Exception was taken to this plan
of the Senate ma nagers by Senator
Pittman, democrat, Nevada, who sug
gested in a speech on the floor today
that action on the Yap treaty be de-
ferred until we have determined
our naval policy and our policy with
regard to alliances affecting the Pa
cific and the far east"
No definite stand for or against the
treaty was taken by the Nevada sena-
tor, although he declared that by it's
acceptance the United States would
lose the is.erest it now has in SOW
lutte and exclusive sovereignty by
Japan will be confirmed" He also at
tackled Senator Lodges previous decla-
ration i'm the Senate that Americans
and Japanese would have entirely equal
rights on the island, and quoted the
treaty to show that equality was to
exist ..only in regard to all that relates
to the landing and operation of cables"
Similar rights regarding radio facili-
ties, Mr. Pittman said, could<not be ex-
ercised so long as an efficient radio
station was maintained on the island by
Japan.
Our press associations" continued
the Nevada senator. have long been
complaining that they could not get
adequate service through the cleo
tr1cal communications controlled by
Japan. 1t is true Japan contracts to
conduct such service effectively, but
If in our opinion, she fails to do this,
what action shall be taken? Who
would settle the dispute? Would it
be settled under the four-power pact?"
Senator Pittman also quoted the
Notifications article of the naval
treaty. and asserted that if the Senate
ratified this treaty. I'VE will have. in
my opinion, abandoned our influence
and our commerce in the far east"