Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-12-21
HARDING REACHES
DECISION ON PLAN
FOR WORLD COURT
HY ROBERT r. SMALL
GeaseG Wire Service to The Journal.)
(Copvripht 1920


MARION, Ohio, Dec. 1S.-Presi-
dent-elect Harding has decided on
the sort of association Of nations
into which he believes the United
States should enter He frankly
says the details of the plan have
not been worked out, but the broad
general principles of his idea have
been the basis for the conferences
under way during the past week.
Mr.. Harding has in mind not mere
ly an international court or a fur
Their exchange of arbitration treaties
but an association" This is en-
phasized in his latest utterance:
IT have every confidence in the
world that our America will take
it's place in a fitting association for
world peace. I believe we will be
able to answer every desire of the
American people without the sur
render of one thing that we hold dear
as heritage"
This statement was made IN tne
presence of William jennings Bryan'
who nodded approval OF WHAT MA
Harding had to say.
Mr. Bryan also believes in an as
ISOLATION. He never liked Article X
at all. but he was willing TO accspl
the so-called Wilson League OF M
tions as whole, believing tnat or
could be smoothed out later MI.
BRYAN lost patience with Mr.. wilson
when the latter insisted Article \
was the heart of the covenant anu
could not be changed in any way.
Much of the criticism OF the So
called wilson league is that it was
an attempt to go too far; that II
sought to lay down rules OF action
that were entirely too spectre, tnas
the covenant was too arpltrary anu
. binding and in effect would tend 70
rob individual nations of that sell
determina ton which so often was
referred to as one of the OBJECTS OF
The Harding Plan
Mr.. Harding would have an asso,
citation formed on the same genera
principles of the League OF Natlollss
seeking the peace of the world as
outlined in the opening statement o, OF
the covenant of Versailles. He
would leave the nations free. how
it arose. After a course OF action
should be recommended by the
league, each sovereign state wouId
have the right to say whether or
not it would give adherence 10 that
decision.
with senator Harding that this was
the underlying principle OF tne
thirty investigation treaties nego-
tiated by this country during the
state. Mr.. Harding believes that
such an association would meet the
general desire that some sort OF ma
chinery be set up looking to peace
able settlement Of all q que lions
time America would be left free TO
express her own opinion as to the
justice and desirability: OF any
course of action proposed.
There would be no appointment
of delegates with plenary powers to
bind this country in advance to any
specific course of action. Congress
would at all times be left free, with
out moral or legal obligation. to
make its own decisions in any mat
tiers affecting the United States or
involving the participation by. the
United States in any international
undertaking.
The Acid Test
Most of the advocates of a eLague
of Nations have insisted all along
that the great accomplishment of
league would lie in the fact that
it would give quarreling states an
opportunity to meet together and
talk things over. 1t has been Salo
that If there had been any existence
of established means Of calling the
nations of the world quickly to-
gether in 1914 the world Var might
have beeS avoided.
The association Mr.. Harding has
in mind would provide this means
of discussions and the further means
of a1igning the public opinion OF
the world on one side or the other
of an impending strife, Moral sua-
sion, it is argued, will accomplish
more in the end than threat of
armed force.
The Harding plan was undergoing
an acid test today, It was being
considered by "Jim" Reed, of Mis-
souri,, a Democrat, and the most i'm.
placable foe of the Wilson league OF
all the irreconcilables in the senate.
Republican irreconcilables have been
charged with opposing the league
for partisan purposes; Senator Reed
made, heavy political and personal
against the league and all of it's
work. Mr.. Harding has felt that
if his plan for an association could
get even the tacit support of Mr..
Reed it's success would be assured.
Senator Fall one of the Republican
bitter-enders. has indicated that his
mind is prepared to go along with
enator Harding's. Senator Reed,
who has just arrived in Marion is
guest at the Harding home. The two
men are close personal friends. Mr..
Reed says the Harding plan de-
serves the most thoughtful consid-
GRAFTON.
rVONTrn ATTAIN