New-York tribune., 1920-12-29
Wilson League
Declared Dead
BY McCumber
Only Republican Senator
Who Stood for Covenant
Without Reservations
Won to Harding Policy
He Advises a New Start
Interlocking Arbitration
Treaties Are Regarded as
Ample Security for Peace
From q Staff Correspondent


MARION, Ohio, Dec Ex-senator
Porter J. McCumber. Of North Dakota,
told President-elect Harding to-day
that he was in favor Of scrapping the
League of Nations covenant and Gre
at'ng new world peace organization
In the Senate treaty fight Senator Nc
crmber was the only Republican, it
was recalled here, who voted for the
treaty as negotiated at Versailles.
The change of feeling on the part OF
the North Dakota Senator wa. regard
&c here as indicating disposition on
the part of MIR. M.Cumber to give
fresldent-elcct Harding carts blarche
N developing a new rlan for {. concert
CT nations. Senator Harding himself
was reported to be highly pleased with
hls conference with Mr.. McCumber.
Ny own idea is that we should start
anew" declared Senator McCumber
21ter leaving the Office of the Presi-
GGert-elect. II want /. understood that
am not expressing any bu, my own
IDEAS. | believe that the world will
nave firm founds ton for lasting
poace when we have negotiated inter-
locking arbitration tlcaties amonr all
the great powers.
Six Months Delay Suggested
These treaties should provide fo-
an agreement to settle all iusticiabla ?
questions by arbitration. There should
also be an agreement to submit non
lusticiable questions. first, to SIX
months Investigation to searching
publicity, and, finally, for the disputinty
nations to agree to six months DELAY
IN seeking other more direct means ~
settlement"
Senator McCumber said that Senator
nardlng's plan TO arrange peace with
Cermany by declaration was accent
able, because the United States does
not need to subscribe to the Treaty Of
Versailles.
"Germany, having signed the treaty,
is bound by it," he sa d. "She is bound
IN respect to the United States, as we'll
as to the other sgratory powers. IN
respect to matters not covered in the
treaty, we can arrange for separate
conversations looking to a settlement" :"
senator McCumber declared the pres
ent Congress would reduce appropria-
elons by curtal!lng the naval and mill
tary program of the United States.
'The world is in no condition to
fight us at present" he said, and we
run no danger from such curtailment.
! apan won't get into war with us.
II she did we woNld have ample provi-
sion TO take care of her.
he naval reductions probably will
be made by failing to lay down new
kocls. 1t will be more economical in
the long run to comNlcte ships on
which work has been started"
senator McCumber said he did not
know how these economies would affect
the army, but limited that the sub
sidlary. branches Of the service de-
veloped during the Word War would
be curtailed. This probably means a
reduction in the aircraft program.
Harding and Straus Confer
President-e ect Harding had long
talk with Oscar Straus, of New York
a member of Roosevelt's Cabinet and
formery United States Minister to
Turkey. Mr.. Straus always has fa-
vored the League of Nations and told
senator Harding he believed it was the
rest foundation for a world peace So
ciety.
Mr.. Straus declared it would be
sreat mistake to enlarge the Cabinet
IS Senator Harding proposes to do hv
The creation of Department of Public
" elfare. "Enlarging the Cabinet viii
destroy the consultative features and
divide it up into sections" said Mr.
Straus. "As far as the proposed nlan
For creating Federal machinery for
ooking after the public welfare is con-
serned, q bureau would serve quite as
as department"
From the time, early in the cam