Washington, April 5.
It was an eventful week that came to an end on Thursday last. The previous Friday, March 24, has fiot unfittingly been described as one of the greatest days in American history, and while such a characterization may seem extravagant to readers on the other side of the world, it is not regarded by those lovers of peace and of friendly " international relations who for many weary weeks have watched the determined efforts of a group of senators to bring to naught the work of the Conference, and have seen how near they have come to succeeding. The bitterest opposition was directed against the Four-Power treaty, which provides for the settlement by joint conference of all questions regarding the insular possessions of the high contracting parties in the regions of the Pacific Ocean that may not be settled through the ordinary agencies of diplomacy. Despite the positive assurances of President Harding and Secretary Hughes that there was no alliance either expressed or understood and no secret agreement, it was as a virtual alliance likely to lead the United States into war that the treaty was attacked. Had Senator Lodge and the friends of the treaty not agreed to incorporate in the resolution of ratification a rescrvation declaring that it was the understanding of the United States that the treaty contained no com-mirment to armed force, no alliance and no obligation to, join in any defence, the greatest" achievement ut the Conference would have been nullified, and it is a_ significant fact that even after the adoption of this reservation the treaty narrowly escaped defeat.
Of the 86 members of the Senate 6) are classed as Republicans, but the votes of two-thirds of the members present and voting are necessary to the ratification of a treaty; and inasmuch as four Republicar Grreconcilables" voted with the opposition, the treaty was only saved by the 12 Democratic votes recorded in its favour. An interesting fact connected with the final proceedings was the defeat, one after another, of no fewer than 31 amendments, at the average rate of one every seven minutes.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.