The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-08-17
HARDING PACTS
IN EFFECT
TODAY
..-....-a
Treaties Assure Naval Reduc-
ton and Ten-Year Peace on
Pacific Ocean. |
Continued from First Page.)

ment marked the deposit OF ratlrlca"
tons.
AS soon as the diplomats had
affixed their signatures to the
process-verbal, Secretary Hughes
said:
ION behalf of the United States I
deposit the treaties In due FORM"
The treaties thus became effec-
tive at 1910, eastern standard time:
The United States was represented
by Secretary Of State Hughes, who
was chief of the American delegation
at the armamnet conference. H. q.
Chiffon, charge d'affaires Of the
| British embassy, acted for Great
Britain; Andre de la Boulaye, charge
d'affaires of the French embassy, for
France: Senior Augusta RoSsO,
charge d'affaires of the italian en-
baSsy, for Italy, and Ambassador
| Masanao Hanihara, who was one of
the Japanese delegates at the con-
ference, for japan.
Proces-verbal officially advising
| the contracting powers Of the deposit
Of notifications, as provided by the
treaties, will be dispatched at once
by Secretary Hughes to London,
Paris, Rome and Tokyo.
To Destroy Fighting Ships.
Under the naval limitation treaty,
ratio of 5.5.S is established for
the number Of capital ships which
may be maintained, respectively, by
the United States. Great Britain,
and Japan, while the navies Of
France and italy are scaled down
in proportion. This leaves the
United States navy with eighteen
capital ships, and plans are being
/ worked out by the Navy Depart.
nent for the destruction OF the
fighting ships doomed by the
treaty.
In addition to providing for the
abrogation Of the long-standing
Japan, the four-power Pacific
treaty establishes an agreement be.
tween these two powers and the
United States and France by which
they solemnly promise ITO respect
their rights In relation to their
lnsular possessions and insular do.
minions in the region Of the Pa.
cific ocean,"
II a controversy should arise be-
tween any Of the contracting
parties which cannot be settled
satisfactorily through diplomacy
conference Of all the signatory pow.
ers will be called and the question
at issue will be referred to the
| conference "for consideration and
adjustment" The treaty also pro.
vides that IL the rights Of any Of
the powers are threatened by the
| aggressive action Of any other
power" the contracting parties will
communicate with one another
frankly in an effort to arrive at an
understanding "as to the most eft.
ficient measures to be taken, jointly
| or separately, to meet the ext
gencies Of the particular situation"
Conference Met In 1921.
The formal invitation Of the
United States to the powers Of the
world to meet in conference in Wash.
ington went out on August II, 1921,
and the conference assembled in
| Continental Memorial Hall here on
November IL, 1921, and continued
until February s, 1922.
The proposal Of the United States
for the limitation Of naval armament
was made at the first plenary session
by Secretary Hughes and the treaty
was signed on the last day Of the
conference. The Pacific treaty was
signed on December IS, 1921.
Made Reservations.
In ratifying the Pacific treaty
in March. 1922. by a vote of 81
to 81, the United States Senate
adopted a reservation providing
that It was the understanding Of
this Government that the treaty
implies mo commitment to armed
force, no alliance, no obligation
to join in any defense"
| The naval treaty was ratified
by the Senate at the same time by
vote of "a to /.
Besides these important treaties
designed to guarantee and main
tain the peace Of the world, the
Washington conference also con-
cluded treaties relating to stabit1-
alton of China, a treaty relating
to the use of submarines and
poison gas in warfare. and reso-
lutions for the purpose of continu-
ing and carrying into effect GER
tain questions which the confer
ence was not in a position to de-
eide. Among these was a resolu-
ton providing for the establish.
ment Of an international commits
| sion Of jurists to consider the
amendment of the laws of war af-
fecting the use Of airplanes and
| submarines