Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-12-18
OPPOSITION OENTRY.
Of j. s. INTO LEAGUE
IS FAST COLLAPS||VG
BY ROBERT r. SMALL
LEASED Wire Service to The Journal
Copyright, 1920


Copyright, 1920.)
MARION. O., Dec. 16.-The col
lapse of "irreconcilable" opposition
to the entry of America into a league
or an association Of nations is plain
ly indicated by the Marion confer
ence thus far.
That the United States must take
up it's share of the burden Of stab
ilizing the world, that the United
States cannot stand alone in splendid
or any other sort of isolation, and
that the United States must find a
way to reassert its moral leadership
of both western and eastern hemis-
pEeres, is agreed by all who have
come to Marion.
The visit Of Senator Albert B.
Fall, of New Mexico, a real "irre-
| concilable" Of the senate. has been
most Illuminating. Senator Fall con-
tends he still is 1rreconcilable," but
he finds his mind running along very
nicely with Mr.. Harding's just at
this time, and he sees no reason why
the United States should not CO.
! operate with Europe, provided al
| ways that congress does not dele
gate it's powers to Americas repre-
sentatives in a league or association
Of nations
Some of those who talked with
Senator Fall, while he was in Ma
rion, thought he wanted to convey
the impression that Senator Harding
had come around to his way Of think
| ing. but when the senator from New
Mexico was pinned down on the
| point, he said Mr.. Harding's views
| had been made clear during the cam
paign and he would not seek to state
them. He added. however. that Sen
ator Harding unquestionably was
proceeding in the right direction.
Opposition Breaking
Senator Falls ready agreement
with Senator Harding on the neceS-
| sity OF the. United States co-operat-
ing with Europe in new associa-
| ton OF nations has led to the con-
clusion here that when he presents
his plan the new president will have
| almost the solid support of his party
| in the senate.
There is a further feeling here
| that in the end the irreconcilable
| opposition may be reduced to Sena-
| tors Johnson. of California, and
Borah. of Idaho. Even Senator
Johnson said during the campaign
| that he favored an international
! Senator Borah. however. is commit
| ted against any league, any associa-
| tlon,, or combination of nations
which involves or implies political
stand aloof from all agreements
| which might be construed as hay
| ing political significance.
Like Senator Fall. manv of the ir-
| reconc1lables of the senate are close
personal friends of Senator Hard
ing and from the attitude taken by
Mr.. Fall 1t is assumed they are not
| going to attempt to embarrass him
In any way In the negotiation of the
new international understandings
Nor. is there to be irreconcilable
objection. 1t seems, to basing the
new association of nations upon the
trameWork, of the covenant Of Yer
SSa annnc, There is no letup in the
now stands The ere a .eas s4atem as Is
that the present league Is entirely
unWorkable and that the treaty of
peace itself is vicious and altogether
hh a but Senator Fall let it
| THAI if Senator Harding thought lr
pest 70 work out the new associa-
| ZION from what, is good in the So
| calleo wilson league, there would
| pe no objection from him or from
| the great majority of his associates
| in the senate.
To Use Present Machinery
Of course. Senator Harding and
senator Fall. and most of the Repub-
| iicans, would like to have the Wilson
| stlgma' entirely wiped away from
tne ASSOCIATION OF nations in which
a, Is to participate. and efforts
In that direction unquestionably viii
De made. But as the machinery for
calling the nations together exists In
the league now functioning at Gene
va, that machinery may be made use
OF, ana the same nations which make
| up the league may sit about the
| IapIe when the new association is
tormed. or when the league covenant
| is modified to meet the terms Ameri-
ca may lay down.
The method of approach to the
nations of the world to join with
tne United states is receiving con-
sideration at this time. Senator Fail
thinks that the nations of Europe
and of South America should come
TO- the United States and ask that
this country take the leadership In
the new arrangement. He thinks the
nations should invite themselves to
conference to be held in Washing
ton and he feels that the desire of
the rest of the world to have the
united states cooperate is so great
that the other nations will not hest
tate to take this course.
Senator Fall does not profess to
speak for. Senator Harding on this,
but he Is known as one of the closest
men,. politically and socially, to the
president-elect. Furthermore. he
made his statements on this subject
in the presence of the president-elect.
It is Mr.. Falls idea that the United
states has an opportunity to assume
more, and the best way to make this
leadership both apparent and para
mount is to have the other nations
come to US for guidance and direc-
ton.
Harvey Capitulates
Lord Robert Cecil. at Geneva. some
time ago, gave out an interview in
which he said the other nations
would not come to Washington on a
mission of this sort. Mr.. Fall thinks
differently.
do you expect France or England
to take the lead in inviting them
selves to a new conference at Wash
ington?" I asked the senator from
New Mexico.
the initiative itself" he replied.
Mr.. Fall believes Europe generally
is disguised with the treaty of Ver-
sailles and he predicts that new ne
gotiations will be opened between
England and France and Germany
within a very short time. Mr.. Fall,
as a member of the senate foreign
relations committee. may have infor-
| nation of which the public is NOT
cogniZant.
The Important thing is that it now
is certain the United States is going
to - hn ~ I,n