PACIFIC TREATY.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17408, 20 March 1922, Page 7

PACIFIC TREATY.

DENOUNCED IN CONGRESS.

ALLEGATION OF BRIBERY,

(Bt Cablo—Press Association —Ccppigii.) (Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association.)

(Received March 19th, 5.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, March 17

Senator Johnson, in denouncing tho Pacific Treaty, declared he saw no advantage which tho Treaty would have over the Anglo-Japanese Alliance. People were thinking of a limitation, not a combination of armament. "No ingenuity," he said, "can discover any danger to us in the Anglo-Japanese Alliance. For the preservation of peace it is far superior to the Treaty. It is amazing why Britain and Japan should abandon peaco for Eastern Asia and IndiU. and transfer it to the Pacific Islands."

Senator Franco, in attacking tlio Treaty, alleged that very large sums, perhaps as high as tv?o million dollars, were being spent to stir up sentiment for the ratification of the Treaty- _ Senator France is given to making sensational statements, which are not regarded seriously. . . Thb to-called American Commission to promote self-government for India has issued a statement claiming it has received information that Britain asked Japan for military aid in pe event of a general rising in India. The statement which they attribute to Sir Auckland Geddes, that the Pacific Treaty averted imminent war in the Pacific, is being used by the Opposition in a renewed attack upon the Treaty. - Senator Robinson declared if Sir Auckland Geddes was correctly reported, the Senate should vote against not only the Pacific Treaty, but also naval limitation. If it were true, ho said, that Japan was preparing to attack our Pacific possessions at the time when the Treaty was made, then instead of disarming we should call on America to arm. Under such circumstances it would be dangerous to scrap battleships and bind ourselves not to deffinl Guam and the Philippines.

A heated debate followed Senator Robinson's reference to Sir Auckland Gedde.i. The Opposition demanded that Senator Underwood and Senator Lodge should supply information concerning the Ambassador's-alleged statement, asking if the American delegates knew that war was impending when they made the Treaty. Neither Senator Lodge nor Senator Underwood answered.

Senator Watson declared that Senator Lodge recently said the same, thing. He told them that if they did not take the Treaty, war would follow. Senator Lodge interrupted, stating that hj? referred to the preservation of thp peace of the world. Senator Rpbinson suecrested that if Mr Hrghes were called before the Foreign Relations* Committee, the Senate mi eh t know what secret agreements America's allies have tfiftdo. He was certain that an agreement between France and Japan existed.

NAVAL AEMAMENT. (Received March 19th, 5.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, March 18. Mr Denby has ordered the completion of the battleship West Virginia, which tho Naval Committee found to be 80 per cent, completed. This, with the Colorado, makes the two vessels allowed under tho Naval Limitation Treaty. The House of Representatives' Subcommittee on Naval Appropriations has reported that the naval reductions will save taxpayers at least 175 million dollars in tho next fiscal, year, of which nine millions will be directly traceable to tho Conference agreements.