CONFERENCE TREATIES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 15748, 13 February 1922, Page 3

CONFERENCE TREATIES.

SUBMITTED BY PRESIDENT.

iElec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.i (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) WASHINGTON, Feb. 10. Submitting thei Gonferenco treaties to the Senate, Mr Harding, in a speech, said that unless America approves of the treaties its influence throughout the world will be discredited, and future efforts of a like nature would be rendered futile. He declared that the treaties replace menacing disagreements, and the establishment of sureties, instead of uncertainties, which might easily lead l to armed conflict. Inviting prompt approval of the treaties,. Mr Harding said .that, without ratification it would be - impossible to readjust the naval programme. Ho assured the Senate that nothing in any of the treaties commits the. United States or any other Power to any kind of alliance, entanglement, or involvement. If the nations may not trust on© another, then indeed there is little whereon to hang our faith in advancing civilisation. “We can do no more without international negotiations and agreements these days than we could maintain order and neighborliness at home without prescribed rules of conflict,” lie said. He declared that the American unwillingness to bo part of the League • of Nations was kept in mind in framing the documents. The treaties have no semblance or relationship save as a wish to promote a common inspiration. The Four-Power treaty contains no war commitments. It is a moral warning that an aggressive nation would bo embarking on a. hazardous enterprise. If such an agreement were not binding, then all efforts to stabilise peace must be flung to the winds. Either these treaties must have our cordial sanction or every proclaimed desire to promote peace and prevent war would become a hollow mockery. Admitting that the Pacific had been a source of grave concern, Mr Harding said that there lias been apprehension of territorial greed l —the most fruitful cause of war. Tli© Conference had dissipated both, he said. “I am ready to assume sincerity dependable upon the assurances of our neighbors of the Old World. They will respect our lights just as 1 know wo mean to respect theirs. I believe these is an inviolable national honor. I bring ibis particular covenant in the confident belief that it is an outstanding compact of peace for the world, which will justify the limitation of armaments.’’ The President submitted seven treaties, namely, the Five Power Naval, Five Power regulating poison gas and submarines, the Four Power Pacific, and an accompanying declaration regarding American rights in mandated territory, and! an agreement supplementary to the Pacific treaty excludes the Japanese homelands from its terms, and the Nine Power treaties, involving the Chinese “open door” and' tariff. Mr Harding was loudly applauded. Following the speech, Senator Borah announced, that lie would support the treaties if it were proved that they were non-entangling. Mr Harding' submitted with the treaties the American delegation’s report on the Conference, containing abstracts and quoting declarations and speeches summarising the results. The report declares : “To appraise correctly the accomplishments, they must be considered as a whole, since each contributes to the combination of conditions in which peaceful security will take the place of competitive preparations for war.”