WORLD PEACE.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 February 1922, Page 5

WORLD PEACE.

HOPES FROM TREATIES. RATIFICATION SOUGHT. SENATE APPROVAL ASKED. » X ■ By Telegraph.- -Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Feb. 12, 5.5 p.m. Washington, Feb. 10. Submitting the Conference Treaties to the Senate, President Harding, in a speech, said that unless America approves of the treaties its influence throughout the world will be discredited, and future efforts of a like nature will be rendered futile. He declared that the treaties replace menacing disagreements, and establish sureties instead of uncertainties which might easily lead to armed conflict. Inviting prompt approval of the treaties, President Harding said that without ratification it would be impossible to readjust the naval programme. He assured the Senate that there was nothing in any of the treaties which committed the United States or any other Power to any kind of alliance, entanglement or involvement. “If nations may not trust one another,” he • added, “then, indeed, there is little whereon to hang our faith in advancing civilisation. We can do no more without international negotiations and agreement these days than we could maintain order and neighborliness at home without prescribed rules of conduct.” He declared that American unwillingness to be part of the League of Nations was kept in mind in framing the documents. The treaties had no semblance of relationship, save as. a wish to promote common inspiration. The Four-Power Treaty contained no war commitments, but it was a moral warning that an aggressive nation would be embarking on a hazardous enterprise. If such an agreement were not binding then all efforts to stabilise peace must be flung to the winds. “Either these treaties must have your cordial sanction or every proclaimed desire to promote peace and prevent war will become a hollow mockery,” he emphasised. Admitting that the Pacific had been the source of grave concern, President Harding said: “There has been apprehension of territorial greed—a most fruitful cause of war—but the conference has dissipated both. I am ready to assume sincerity is dependable upon the assurances of our neighbors of the old world that they will respect our rights just as I know we mean to respect theirs. I believe there is an inviolable national honor. I bring this particular covenant in the confident belief that it is an outstanding compact of peace for the world which will justify the limitation of armaments.”

The President submitted seven treaties, namely: The Five-Power Naval Treaty; the Five-Power Treaty regulating poison gas and submarines; the Four-Power Pacific Treaty and the accompanying declaration regarding American rights in mandated territory; the supplementary Pacific Treaty excluding Japanese homelands from the terms; and the Nine-Power Treaties regarding the Chinese open-door tariff. President Harding was loudly applauded following his speech.

Senator Borah announced that he would support the treaties if it was proved that they were non-entangling. President Harding submitted with the treaties the American delegation’s report on the Conference, containing abstracts and quoting declarations and speeches. Summarising the results, the report declares that to appraise correctly the accomplishments they must be considered as a whole, since each contributes to a combination of conditions in which peaceful security will take the place of competitive preparation for war.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.