PACIFIC TREATY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11163, 20 March 1922, Page 6

PACIFIC TREATY

SENATOR JOHNSON’S VIEWS

JAPANESE ALLIANCE FOR PRESERVATION OF PEACE. % SENSATIONAL STATEMENTS. By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —CopyrightAustralian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received March 19, 5.5 p.m.) y WASHINGTON, March 18. Senator Johnson, denouncing tho Pacific Treaty, declared that ho saw no advantage which the treaty would have over the Anglo- Japanese Alliance. The people, he said, were thinking of the limitation, not tho combination of armaments. “No ingenuity,” he added, “can discover any danger to us in the AngloJapanese Alliance. For the _ preservation of peaco it superior to tile treaty. It is amazing why Britain and Japan should abandon peace for Eastern Asia and India and transfer it to the Pacific islands.” WASHINGTON, March 17. Senator France, in attacking the Pacific Treaty, alleged that very large sums, perhaps as high as two 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.

THE ATTACK RENEWED DANGEROUS TO SCRAP BATTLESHIPS. SOME HEATED DEBATES. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received March 19, 11.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, March 18. A statement, which they attribute to Sir E. Geddes, “that the Pactfio Treaty averted an imminent war in the Pacific,” is being used by the opposition in the renewed attack upon the treaty. Senator Robinson declared that if Sir E, Geddes was correctly reported, the Senate should vote against, not only the Pacific Treaty ,but also the "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 sciap battleships and bind ourselves not to defend Guam and the Philippines. Heatd debates followed Senator Robinson’s reference to Sir E. Geddes. The former demanded that Senators Underwood and Lodge should supply the information concerning the British Ambassador's alleged statement, and asking if the American delegates knew that a war was impending when they made the treaty. Neither Senators Lodge nor Underwood answered. Senator Watson declared that Senator Lodge recently said the same thing. “He told us if wo 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 if Senator Hughes was called before the Foreign Relations Committee the Senate might know what secret agreements America’s allies hare made. He was certain an agreement between France and Japan existed.