PACIFIC PACT SIGNED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17965, 15 December 1921, Page 7

PACIFIC PACT SIGNED

APPLICATION TO MANDATES

American reservation. assent not involved. NEW AGREEMENT ADDED. DOMINION SIGNATORIES. 1 Bv Telegraph— Press Asaoeiatior,—Copyrieht (Received 8.45 p.m.) A. and N.Z, WASHINGTON, Dec. 13. The treaty between Britain, the United States, Japan, and Fiance for the settlement of disputes which may arise in the Pacific was signed to-day. The following agreement wap signed with the treaty :—ln signing the treaty this day between the United States, the British Empire. France, and Japan, it is derlared to be the understanding and intent of the signatory Powers :— First: The treaty shall apply to the mandated islands of the Pacific Ocean, provided, however, that the making of the treaty shall not be deemed an assent on the part of the United States to the mandates and shall not preclude agreements between the United States and the mandatory Powers respectively in relation to the mandated islands. Second: The controversies to which the second paragraph of Article 1 refers shall not be taken to embrace questions which, according to the principles of international law, lie exclusively within the domestic jurisdiction of the respective Powers.

In keeping with the usual proceedings of the conference, the signing of the treaty was marked by an absence of formality. The delegates arrived clad in sober civilian garb, and stood round the secretary's room chatting among themselves while the signing took place, each one in turn being called to the table as though completing merely an ordinary business document, not 'an instrument which, it is hoped, will stabilise conditions in the Pacific for a generation. All members of the four delegations signed except M. Jusserand and M. Sarraut (France), who wero unavoidab'y absent. South Africa has been added to the list of British Dominions, Mr. Balfour signing on behalf of the Union Government, as well as head of the British delegation. The treaty is bi-lingual, a French translation being paralleled with the English text. The delegates used their own seals, and in most cases their own pens, though Mr, H. C. Lodge and Mr. EHhu Root each had an eagle p'ume. The United States delegates signed first, then those of Britain, France,' and Japan, whose four delegates signed in English letters.

Mr. G. F. Pearce (Australia) used the same fountain pen as he used when signing the Australian Treaty, The names of all the delegates are incorporated in the treaty, the names of the British Dominions' delegates being headed by Sir Robert Borden. Then follow the names of Mr. G. F. Pearce, Sir John Salmond (New Zealand), Mr. A. J. Balfour (on behalf of South Africa), and Mr. Sastri (India).

The names of the other delegates who signed are Mr. Hughes, Mr. H. C. Lodge, Mr. 0. W b Underwood, and Mr. Elihu Root (United States); M; Viviani (France), and Admiral Baron Kato, Baron Shidehara, Prince Tokugawa, and Mr. Haribara (Japan). The signatures of the other French delegates will be appended later.

The treaty provided that it shall be deposited in the archives of the United States Government, and that duly certified copies shall be transmitted to each of the signatory Powers.

SUBMISSION'TO SENATE. SOME DELAY POSSIBLE. RUMBLINGS OF OPPOSITION. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association! (Heed. 9.40 p.m.) WASHINGTON. Dec. 13. It was indicated to-day in Presidential circles that it has not been decided when the Pacific Treaty will be submitted to the Senate. It is not intended to rush the matter. The treaty will not depend in any way on the naval agreement. The President does not propose to submit the treaty personally. Rumblings of opposition to the treaty are coming from the Democratic side of the Senate. It is argued that a balance of. power is involved in the pact. Friends of the treaty, however, are confident of a majority of at least 10, and perhaps 20.

Mr. Colvin Coolidge, Vice-President of the United States, in a speech in Philadelphia, expressed satisfaction at the accomplishments of the Washington Conference, especially the President's intimation of future meetingß and the possibility that Germany would' be included. He pointed out that while some expressed (he fear that the United States might become involved in the affairs of other countries to her detriment, the Republican Party platform specifically provided for the United States' participation in such undertakings, which in no way have tlie character of entangling alliances. He concluded that future meetings of the same kind would 'further carry out'this platform principle.