FOUR-POWER TREATY.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 March 1922, Page 5

FOUR-POWER TREATY.

ATTITUDE OF AMERICA'. SENATE FEARS ALLIANCE. SAFEGUARDS DEMANDED. 11 ' " Y By Telegraph.—-Press Assn.— Copyright. Received March 5, 11.5 p.m. Washington, March 4. The Washington correspondent of the New York Times states that the advocates of reservations to the Four-Power Treaty are gaining so much support that it seems likely the treaty will not be ratified by the Senate unless with reservations. It is understood that Senator H. C. Lodge had a conference with President Harding to-day, and informed the President that ratification depends on the reservations. Senators Brandegee, McCormack and Moses have declared that they will oppose the treaty without the reservations, and the Opposition declares that this will ensure the defeat of the treaty, since thirty other Senators have already declared their opposition to the treaty without the reservations, and thirty-three is the exact number required to defeat ratification. The result of this situation is expressions of opinion that active opposition to the reservations by the Administration will cease. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Washington, March. 2. Senator Hitchcock, addressing the Senate, attacked the Four Power Pacific Treaty, declaring that, unless it was amended* or very satisfactory reservations made, he would vote against its ratification. Senator Hitchcock, who was the leader erf the fight for the League of Nations Covenant, said the Pacific Treaty was not included in the conference call or agenda, and it was negotiated so secretly that not even Senators Lodge or Underwood, were able to enlighten the Senate. He was shocked to learn that even President Harding did not understand the treaty or know if there was a secret agreement between the negotiators concerning its meaning. Senator Hitchcock declared that the Four Power Treaty was conceived in secrecy. He suggested that it was an alliance which bound the four Powers for the purpose of monopolising the Pacific islands. If Australia was threatened with attack, America would be bound to join the other Powers for the purpose of agreeing upon its defence, although the attack might be provoked. Baron Uchida had just informed the Japanese Parliament that the Four •Power Treaty was intended to extend the Anglo-Japanese Alliance. If the Japanese interpreted the treaty as an alliance they were likely to act under its provisions as an alliance. “I do not,” said Senator Hitchcock, “like the idea of guaranteeing the Japanese -and British in their possession of the ex-German islands in the Pacific.”

ACCEPTABLE TO JAPAN. Received March 5, 5.5 p.m. Tokio, March 3. High officials are of opinion that the Four-Power Treaty will be acceptable to Japan, with the reservations under consideration by the United States Senate.