PACIFIC TREATY.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 March 1922, Page 5

PACIFIC TREATY.

VOTE IN THE SENATE. AMENDMENT REJECTED. THE FEELING DISCLOSED. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Washington, March 14. The Senate defeated Senator Robinson’s Pacific Treaty amendment, binding the four Powers to refrain from aggression and providing that when a controversy arises and is not settled diplomatically, the nations concerned shall be summoned to a conference. The voting was 30 for and 55 against the amendment. Senator Len Root, in the Senate, urged that President Harding 'Should withdraw all the Arms Conference treaties from the Senate and ask the country at the November Congressional elections for a mandate for ratification. If, the Senate rejects the Pacific Treaty the President should also notify the other Powers that action on the treaties is deferred till the question has been laid before the American people. Senator Len Root said the rejection of the Pacific Treaty would create a grave danger of the rejection of the naval limitation treaty by France and Japan. Received March 15, 9.15 p.m. New York, March 14. Continuing his speech in the Senate, Senator Len Root declared that war sooner or later would be inevitable in consequence of the failure of the Arms Conference’s treaties. The debate on the Pacific. Treaty was discreditable to the Senate, because it centred the issue on the question who wrote it, but the treaty should be judged by what it is and not by allegations concerning its authorship.

The vote on Senator Robinson’s amendment, which was the first test of the strength of the opposing forces in the Senate, indicates that the treaty will be ratified, although it may embody Senator Brandegee’s reservation. The vote showed that the Republican supporters of the treaty aided Senator Lodge in considerable numbers. Senator McCumber asked why the Administration was not taking steps to establish an association of nations as promised by President Harding. “I hope,” he said, “to see the day when the policies enunciated in these treaties shall be embodied into a compact that will include all the great nations of the world.”

Senator Shields said: “In view of the imperialistic Japanese and British Governments’ interest in the treaty I believe it is a more iniquitous document than even the League of Natioris.”