Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-12-23
BRYAN AND BORAH
HOLD CONFERENCE
Nothing Said Afterward Re-
veals That Either Gentleman
Has Changed His Mind on
Subject of World Peace

Washington. Dec. 90 (By the Asso-
clated Press) ).-William J. Bryan, who
visited President t-elect Harding at
Marion recently. held lengthy confer
"nce to-day with Senator Borah OF
Idaho. leader among Republican OPP
ponents of the League of Nations.
The purpose of Mr.. Bryan's visit here,
II was stated reliably was to discuss
possibilities of securing an agreement
or reaching some common ground in
the movement toward "a concord for
maintenance of world peace. From
what could be learned of his conference
with Senator Borah. it was said that
the views Of Mr.. Bryan and the Idaho
senator both were unchanged. It was
indicated that Senator Borah remain
ed implacable toward any arrangement
involving any international alliance.
Significance was given Mr.. Bryan's call
upon Senator Borah because of the for
mers very recent talk with Senator
Harding and the former cabinet premier's
expressions, after his Marion visit Of
hopefulness for solution of the world
peace problem. Senator Borah also dis
cussed the subject with Senator Harding
for hour during the latters stop over
here early this month.
Information obtained here from sena-
tors and others who have conferred with
the President-eect is that Senator Hard
ing has formulated in his mind only the
broad, general outline OF effecting an ar
rangement for peace and has not yet
come to a consideration of details of any
plan. Some who have visited the Presi-
dentelect however. state that he APP
parently does not contemplate absolute
discard of the treaty Of Versailles but is
considering incorporation of certain fea-
lures. at least, in developing his peace
policy. Among the expedients said to be
under consideration at Marion is adoption
of new set of reservations removing all
question OF American obligation and ex-
pressing merely American adherence to
principles believed helpful toward pro-
venting war
Establishing of world court and de-
vclopment of new code of international
law and procedure are other features of
Senator Harding's thought, according to
word brought here from the Marion con-
rerences. Difficulties of establishing
world court or substituting some such
plan for the the League Of Nations. how
ever. are being discussed privately among
senators
"a judicial league is no more feasible
than a political league" was the state-
ment to-day of Senator Reed, of Missouri,
prominent Democratic 'irrcconciable,"
who had long talk with Senator Harding
last week.
1t is the accepted rule" said Sena-
tor Reed, "that no Judge shall sit in any
case in which he has any interest also
that the litigants themselves should not
participate in tho judgment.
Take the case Of the Panama canal
tolls question. If submitted to an inter-
national court the American justice
would be bound. under the accepted prac-
tice. to retire. IF Great Britain raised
the question of tolls it might be that
the British justice also would retire, but
this would leave settlement of the ques-
tion to judges representing nations which
would have interests identical with
Great Britains in seeing that American
vessels should not have free tolls through
the canal
Senator Reeds statement was advance
ed to illustrate trials facing actual devel-
opment and drafting of agreements for
a world court plan.