Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-03-01
PRESIDENT
AND HUGHES AGREE:
ON SEPARATE PACT
BY ROBERT r. SMALL
ILeased Wire Service TO The Journal!
(Copyright, 1921

League Of Nations be thrown into
the discard.
Senator Harding has discussed the
foreign situation freely and frankly
with Charles Evans Hughes, who has
accepted the portfolio of secretary of
state. and it has been agreed by
these two men who will direct the
foreign policy Of the United States,
that immediate peace with Germany
hall be had by means of joint res
luton of congress approved by the
esident. repeating the declaration
war against Germany and Austria.
This resolution will include dec
=. Harding and Mr.. Hughes feel
ould be sufficiently reassuring to
urope until such a time as the new
ADMINISTRATION plans for an "asso-
alton of nations" can be definitely
rmulated and submitted to such
ltions as may be in receptive
anne of mind. Regardless of what
ay be expected in the chancellories
t London. Paris, Rome and Berlin,
europe will have to wait for con-
siderable period of time for a COM
foreign policy.
Senator Harding will set about first
of all to evolve a plan which he may
feel assured will be acceptable to
the American people. But it must
also be acceptable to other nations,
and it is obviously not possible for
Senator Harding at present to pos
sess assurances on that subject; nor
can he have such assurances until
he has become president and has en-
tered into diplomatic relations with
the nations Of the world.
International Court
No detailed announcement of for
Mr.. Harding's inaugural address tor
the very good reason that he is with
holding final decision on his foreign
policy until he can take the matter
up for advice and counsel with the
membership of the foreign relations
committee of the senate under the
new congress. The foreign affairs
committee of the mouse also will be
consulted. But first of all, Mr.. Har-
ding wants to be satisfied that the
policy of his administration will be
as acceptable to foreign nations as
he believes he. can make it to the
American people, whose views and
sentiments he feels he already has
ascertained.
Although Mr.. Harding has heard
on the part of certain of the allied
nations, he still believes there can
be constituted as a means of pre-
venting war a world court whose
judgments and decisions will be en-
forced by the power of public opin-
combined armies and navies. After
their experience with Germany in
1914 the European allies naturally
doubt the achievement of any such
many deliberately refused to become
party to any of The Hague COM
mitments to arbitration and yet was
not condemned by public opinion. On
the contrary Germany thrived and
was we'll liked until the day she set
the world on fire.
MI. Harding nevertheless believes
that an international court, properly
constituted would grow gradually
into the possession of the same NOR
al power which now gives so much
force and effect to the mandates of
the supreme court of the United
States. AS between the states of the
union the supreme court has only a
moral power. But it is sufficient.
The court never has issued an execu-
ton against state.
Mr.. Harding believes this court
should have power to determine all
questions that nations can afford to
have decided. This would not in
clude questions affecting national
honor or vital interests. Mr.. Har-
in any plan for an association of
nations which may be offered to the
world all governments will be left
with the final power of decisions.
He does not like the idea of a sur
ding is perfectly willing that there
shall be an assembly of nations, it
that course is deemed desirabl after
a thorough discussion of the mat
ter with other governments, but
his assembly will not be given
power of a binding decision ;! The The
would report back to their home
governments the recommendations
Of the assembly and each nation
would be free to approve or disap-
In the plan which is before Sem
ator Harding at the moment it is
proposed that any assembly or GEN.
trail organization, shall be made up
of delegates appointed by the gov
ernments IN power There would dS be
assembly, but its makeup would
change with every change in gov
eminent. This plan, it is believed,
would keep the assembly abreast Of
the public opinion Of the day in each
country.
The Harding peace program may
be summed up finally as follows:
1-Immediate peace with Ger
many through resolution Of con-
greSS.
2-Immediate steps looking to the
calling of a disarmament conference
Of the leading nations Of the world.
3-The calling Of a conference of
the nations for the codification of
international law. At present these
laws are entirely nebulous.
court of justice for the settlement
Of all questions wherein justice
rather than honor is at stake.
5-The creation of a world confer
ton Of issues Of a political or non
juStifiab1e character
The court would depend entirely
upon public opinion, to enforce it's
decisions and the assembly, as al
ready stated, would have no plenary
powers under the Harding plan. The
program is an ambitious one and it
easily may take two or three
years before it can be consummated.
if at all. There is always the pos
sibility that the delay in submitting
the Harding plan and the further
nations to it,, may strengthen the
League of Nations as at present con-
stituted and functioning.
In the meantime the resolution of
peace with Germany, to be drawn
anew and submitted to congress by
Senator Knox of Pennsylvania will
state the policy of the United States
under which Europe must rest con-
tent. This statement, approved by
Senator Harding and Mr.. Hughes,
would be as follows:
ut is the declared policy of the
United States in order to meet fully
and fairly our obligations to our
selves and to the world, that the
freedom, and peace of Europe being
again threatened by any power or
combination of powers, the United
States will regard such a situation
with grave concern as a menace to
its own peace and freedom will con-
suit with other, powers affected
h n far- rir,s. e
the removal of such menace, and
will, the necessity arising in the fu-
ture, cooperate with the friends of
civilization for its defense"
Senate Asks Palmer