Milford chronicle., 1920-10-29
MIR. HARDING HAS
REMAINED STEADFAST

Washington. Oct 29-" Senator Har-
ding's attitude on the question Of a
League OF Nations has not been in
doubt since March =. 1918. when 80
Senators, Harding among them. join
ed in signing resolution stating
their position asserts the Republi-
can Publicity Association, through
I its President. Hon. Jonathan Bourne,
Jr "That resolution declared:
I THAT il is the sense of the SEN
ate that while it is their sincere
desire that the nations of the
world should unite to promote
peace and general disarmament,
the constitution OF the league of
nations in the form now propos-
ed to the peace conference should
not be accepted by the United
States.
THAT it is the sense Of the
Senate that the negotiations on the
part of the United States should
Immediately be directed to the ut
most expedition of the urgent bus |
mess of negotiating peace terms (
with Germany satisfactory to the /
United States and the nations with /
whom the United States is asso-
ciated in the war against the Ger
man government, and that the pro-
posal for a league Of nations to
insure the permanent peace Of the
world should be then taken up for
careful and serious consideration
THAT declaration was signed by 80
Republicans some Of them popular
ly known as prOgressiyes' and some
of them called reactiOnaries. 1t was
signed by men know as "irreconcila-
bles. and by advocates of the league
with the Lodge reservations. Some
of the 80 disagreed upon minor par
ticulars but were absolutely in ac-
cord upon the general proposition
that the league in the form propos-
ed by President Wilson should not
be agreed 10 by the United States
Senate as a part OF the peace treaty.
Talk of 'scrapping the league has
deception for its purpose. All 80 OF !
he signers Of the resolution above I
luoted are on record as fayorins the
of the league i'm the form d
by the Brntain-WilsOn franz
RS. But they are not in favor Of I
the league and leaving the y
ubject of permanent peace without T.
urther consideration They have de-
Jared their purpose to take up the y
ubject on its own merits when Il
)rm of agreement can be arrived at =
trough the channels of open diplo- "
lacy, by which means the American | III
eOple may have a voice in saying by
hat sort of covenants they shall be %
)und. They propose that the obli ~
atoms to be assumed by the United vi
-ates shall be fully and freely dis al
lssed before the terms of the agree %
ent are finally framed and that the III III
nited States shall not be compelled ny
bind itself to covenant made in nc
reign lands, in secret COnclave, and ne
thout opportunity to change a word WI
the document They are determin- ill' y,
that when this nation is bound to III
contract more important than any se'
her in its history, there shall be
II opportunity to make definite and eF
eciiic all the provisions which limit an
nerican rights and powers, or that "'
pose obligations. They propose to ll'
idy the contract first and sign af- o,
ward, rather than accede to the W
lson demand to sign first and study
President Wilson gave no oppor-
lity for the American people, thru ao
,ir representatives, to make changes nu
the terms of the covenant. He MOI
elared when he went to France Is
It he would bring back a treaty hlI
h a league covenant woven into it Juu
such a manner that it must be Oh
opted without change. Ec'
Because it was un-American in 9tl
,stance and in the manner of it's =
son leaeue has been scranno5 If of
dead-and in due tima deiiberal and
, bodv of duIv chosen Araericar son
zens will take nm in orderly ',,, ma bub
N manner tbe nrohlen, of nro,oot- ,,lt har
world peace" Vi