Senate Scares

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XII, Issue 85, 20 March 1922, Page 5

Senate Scares

TREATY WRECKERS’ TACTICS. JAP. TROOPS FOR INDIA YARN. HEATED DEBATES FOLLOW. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.! Washington, March 18. The so-called American commission to promote self-government for India has issued a statement claiming that it has received information that Britain asked Japan for military aid in the event of a general rising in India. The statement, which they attribute to Sir Auckland Geddes (British Ambassador), 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 that if Sir Auckland Geddes were correctly reported the Senate should vote against not only the Pacific Treaty but also naval limitation. “If it be true.” he said, “that Japan was preparing to attack our Pacific possessions at the time 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 defend Guam and the Philippines.” Heated debates followed Senator Robinson’s reference to Sir A. Geddes. The former demanded that Senators Underwood and Lodge should supply information concerning the Ambassador’s alleged statement, asking if the American delegates knew war was impending when they made the treaty. Neither Senator Lodge nor Senator Underwood ansv.ered. Senator Watson declared that Senator Lodge recently said the same thing. “He told us that if we did not take the treaty war would follow.”

Senator Lodge interrupted, stating that he referred to the preservation of the peace of the world. Senator Robinson suggested that if Judge Hughes was called before the Foreign Relations Committee the Senate might know what secret agreements America’s Allies have made. He was certain an agreement between France and Japan existed. Senator Johnson, denouncing the treaty declared that he saw no advantage which the treaty would have over the Anglo-Japanese Alliance. People were thinking of the limitation, not the combination of armaments. No ingenuity can discover any danger to us in the Anglo-Japanese Alliance. For the preservation of peace it is far superior to the Pacific Treaty. It is amazing why Britain and Japan should abandon peace for Eastern Asia and India and transfer it to the Pacific Islands.”

Senator Fraffice alleged that very large sums, perhaps as high as 2,000,000 dollars, were being spent to stir up sentiment for ratification of the treaty. Senator France is given to sensational statements, so this one is not regarded seriously.”—(A. and N.Z.)

NAVAL LIMITATION.

THE SAVING TO U.S.

Washington, March 18. The House of Representatives subcommittee on naval appropriations reported that the naval reductions will save the taxpayers at least 175,000,000 dollars in the next fiscal year, of which 9,000,000,000 will be directly traceable to the conference agreements. Mr Denby, Secretary of the Navy, has ordered the completion of the battleship West Virginia which the Naval Committee found to be 80 per cent, completed. This, with the Colorado, makes the two vessels allowed completion under the Naval Limitation Treaty.—(A. and N.Z.)