The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-07-28
HARDING WOULD
REVISE TREATY
AND COVENANT
Original Structure Would Be
Used as Basis for Remodel
lnu and Revision, G. 0. P.
Candidate Tells Lawrence.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE,
Especial Correspondent OF The News
ScIn1liarA

AopSSldi correspondent " Tug iNV"e
Selmitarl
MARION. O., July Ex-senator Hard
ing would, If elected president, favor the
revision Of the treaty of Versailles so
that reservations to the league OF ma
lions desired, not only by the United
States, but by other nations, might
be agreed upon. Indeed, he thinks the
covenant ought to he revised.
In explaining his Views TO the writer
the Republican candidate repudtatcd
the inference that he would eliminate
the entire treaty Of Versailles including
the covenant, from consideration.
He declared that of course the orig
inal structure would he used as a
basis for remodelng and revision. He
was inclined to believe the nations OF
Europe would be as glad to be rid OF
Article 10 as would the United States
fundamentally Mir, Harding means TO
approach the other nations Of the world
and negotiate an understanding that
preserves the independence and SOW
ereignty of the United States and at the
same time asks for no privilege thar
America, on her part. is not willing
to grant to other nations.
This may lead possibly to negotiations
between the United States and the al
lies and Germany with the delayed rati-
fication of the treaty of Versailles Of
fering the opportunity for revision or
the document itself for which so many
factions among the signatory nations
have been clamoring.
Would Not Tie Up to Program.
or course, Senator Harding does not
intend to tie himself up to q definite
program either now or II he is elected.
The world situation Is changing so rap
idly that he believes II both unncCes-
sary and superfluous to chart a course
now that may be entirely altered by the
TINA "a pFpstdnng Of tho IfDitpH
States Is naugurated.
For the present Senator Harding Is
concerned with the division In the
ranks OF republicanism. which grew out
OF the fight In the senate between the
"httter- enderS,' like Senators Johnson
and Borah and the mild reservation
lists" and the Lodge eservationists,
Senator Harding tried In his speech Of
acceptance to avoid the details Of
program, rather being content TO state
+ broad policy, OF preserved national
ity on the one hand with assured Keep
ing OF the American conscience for
ourselves, which. he believes, inspired
all the opposition in the senate, and,
on the other hand, ITO assure the world
OF American readiness TO do our part
in promoting international peace
through justice rather than force"
Really there might be as much en-
barrassment TO Senator Harding in com
ing out fatty for the Lodge reservations
as there would be In saying at this
time that no part OF the treaty of Yer
sallleS could be utilized to carry out
the platform pledges OF the Republican
party which favor "a" league OF nations
Of certain principles. The time may
come when with certain safeguards and
amendments accepted by Europe that
the" league OF nations may satisfy all
the requirements set forth In tho plat
form proposal of "a league OF ma
tions.
Deal With Treaty Necessary.
Senator Harding would find it nee
with the treaty of Versailles as all but
four nations Russia, Turkey Mexico
and the United States--are either
parties TO the treaty or members Of
the present league of nations To say
now that he will stand on the Lodge
reservations would be to commit him
self TO program of restrictions upon
the power Of president to conduct
foreign policy which might prove awk-
ward for even a Republican president.
Tho original set OF Lodge reservations
less difficult than those adopted In
the following spring. In the effort to
circumscrihe the power of Woodrow
Wilson some of the senators forgot for
the moment that a Republican presl-
dent might some day be charged with
would find himself powerless. especially
II congress were not In session.
Now at heart Senator Harding would
be found demanding changes In the
league covenant very similar to those
which he voted for in the senate, and
no feels very strongly that article 10
in its present form can be eliminated
without breaking the heart of Europe
Moreover, he doesn't anticipate serious
objection to the equalization of voting
power In the assembly of the league.
However details are not being
preached at this time The important
thing is that ultimately the treaty or
Versailles would be the basis for the
negotiations OF the new understanding
and relationship with Europe TO which
Mr.. Harding referred in his speech Of
acceptance.
II will be noted also. that Gov Cool
tdge, the Republican candidate for vice
president, shows the way toward the
ratification Of the present treaty with
proper reservations, This speech must
have been made with the knowledge
and approval OF the Republican candi-
date for the presidency
Senator Johnson's destructive critic
ism has been needed, hut Senator Hard
ing plainly intends to offer a construc-
tive substitute and fulfll the pledge
10 civilization which America made
during the war TO participate in a serious
effort to form a concert Of nations
10 maintain the peace OF the world
Copyright 1920, by David lawrence