New-York tribune., 1920-12-19
Senate Firm i'm
Opposition to
Wilson League
Hints That Harding Is Con.
sidering Americanization
OF Present Body Cause
Surprise in Washington
Truth of Report Doubted
New Association Based on
Development of World
Court Idea Is Expected
BY Carter Field

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1s.-Confden-
tial advices reaching Senators and
other Republican leaders here from
those who have conferred on the
peace program with Warren G. Hard
ing are all to the effect that Mr.. Hard
Ing Is working out plan which has no
connection whatever with the existing
League Of Nations.
Some surprise has been occasioned,
therefore. at several recent d d'spatches
from Marion indicating that Mr.. Hard
ing was seeking to devise plan Of
Americanizing the existing league, per-
haps along the line Of amending the
league covenant to meet the objec-
tions expressed in the Lodge reserva-
tons.
It had been Assumed in some quarters,
for instance, that this course was urged
on the President by Elhu Root
at their recent conference. But Mr.
Root, according to the best in 'ormation
here, did nothing OF the sort Mr..
HOOL pCSiClOU, IL he udu LdIkcu "
Senator Harding as he talked with
viously, was ardently in favor OF ex-
panding his world court idea, and
broadening The Hague tribunal. He
also favors. it is said positively here,
the recodihcation Of international
law.
Several men in close touch with the
Senate situation have talked with Mr..
Harding in the last few days, and
others, including Senator James +.
Watson, Of Indiana, will talk with him
this week.
Senate Finn Against League
"The teeth of the Senate are set in
this treaty situation" one Senator said
to-day in discussing probable Senate
action ii Mr.. Harding should, but
which he did not believe possible, re-
vert to the idea of Amcricanizing the
existing league. "The election clinched
the determination Of the Senate never
to ratify any treaty which put America
into this present league. There will
be nothing along Che idea of an al-
ance. There will be nothing savoring
of super government. 1t will oc q
straight association of nations OF the
line Of Mr.. Harding's speeches immedi-
dtcly pIlOT 10 tNe cicCllOn.
AS has been told by The Tribune, the
machinery for working out the peace
plan was discussed by Mr.. Harding
with Republican Senator'S while he was
IN Washington. The best information
IS that Mr.. Harding has not departed
IN the slightest from the ideas he held
then. II is expected here that he win
appoint peace commission of seven
members, Of which the Secretary Of
State will be chairman, the chairman Of
the Senate Foreign Relations Commit
tee, Senator Henry Cabot Lodge. one
member; Elihu Root. another member.
and probably one or two other Sena-
tors as we'll as other distinguished
Senate
This commission will take the
groundwork Of the Harding peace pan
xs evolved by his conferences with the
Leading minds" Of America, and will
invite representatives of foreign powers
10 confer with 1t in this country.
World Court His Basic Idea
:. The basic ideas of the peace plan are
Just what Mr.. Root is urging g-recodi-
tcatlon of international law, dcvelop-
ment Of the Hague tribunal and thc
setting up of world court.
Ex-President Taft, by his nubiic
writings on the subject, is causing the
OLD irreconcilable element in the SEN
ate some concern. While they profess
openly not to take Mr. Taft seriously.
actually they are slightly alarmed lest
his opinion should weigh with MIR.
Harding. Mr.. Taft has been fightinr
for the plan Of modifying the eSistinS
league. rather than working out new
American plan. but it is obvious
from information reaching Senators of
al! factions here, that Mr. Taft is not
beng supported in this fight by Elih.:
hoot or many other Republicans who
during the original treaty fight urpeJ
..fN cation, with protecting reserva-
tions.
.Ane truth is that the old irrecon-
cliable group is being placed in the
emba arras ssng position of not being
able to find menacing opposition.