The New York herald., 1921-09-23
HARDING TO OPPOSE
CHANGE IN TREATIES
ASSOUGHT BY BORAH
Administration Forces Line
Up for New Fight Led by
Group Of Reconstructed
Irreconcilables.
LODGE SEES HUGHES
President Insists on Official
Representation on Repair
atiOns Commission With
out Confirmation.
OPPOSES A RESERVATION
Present Discussions May Sc
riously Embarrass This Gov
ernment in Coming Confer
ence on Armaments.
OPPOSES A RESERVATION
Special Despatch to THE NEW York HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau, .,
Washln 0fon n O. SAINT. 20.

New YORK herald bureau, u
Washington, d. c., Sept. 22. "
Opposition to ratification OF the
treaties negotiated by President Har-
ding through Secretary Hughes with
Germany, Austria and Hungary led by
Senator Borah (Idaho). has precipi-
tated a struggle between a recon-
structed irreconcilable group in the
Senate and the Administration. SEN
ator Borah's opposition developed in
the Foreign Relations Committee con-
siderable sympathy on the part of the
other members. notably Senators
Brandegee Comm. Shields (Tenn.)
and Johnson (Calif).
So seriously was this spirit Of OPP
position regarded that Senator Lodge
hurried to the State Department to
day for consultation with Secretary
Hughes The Administration made it
clear it would oppose any amendment
OF the treaty or the application of
reservations similar to those proposed
by Senator Borah.
1t is known that Senator Lodge
brought back with him a fiat declara-
ton that the Administration intended
to appoint an official representative on
the Preparations Commission as soon
as the German treaty was ratified and
opposed any amendment calling for
Senate confirmation or which would
place in the hands of the Senate any
part in the conduct OF foreign reia-
tons which the Constitution places In
the hands of the Executive.
Mny Embarrass Government.
Developments In the Foreign Rela-
,ions Committee mean that the struggle
will be carried to the Senate, where
reconstructed irreconcilable group hopes
to receive the assistance of Democratic
votes. The situation promises fight
which may seriously embaTass the posi-
ton Of the United States Government
in tho approaching arms conference.
where questions OF future peace or war
will be the issue.
In opposing ratification of the treaties
NJ the opening session OF the Foreign Re-
lations Committee Senator Borah main
tained that that portion of the treaty
which authorizes the United States to
have representation on the Reparations
Commission Is as dangerous as ratifica-
ton of the League of Nations would
have been. He processes to believe that
ratification of the treaties would bring
the United States into the concert OF
European nations by the back door after
the Senate had refused to enter by the
front door.
Senator Borah specifically proposed
that the ratification Of the treaties
should be accompanied by reservation
to the effect that the United States
should be represented on the Repara-
tions Commission only with the consent
Of the Senate. which would mean Sena-
toriai approval of any one authorized to
represent the United States upon that
commission
secs Crux of Problem.
Senator Borah called attention to the
fact that the reservation he proposes
is In harmony with reservation No. 2
which was approved by the Republican
members when the Versailles treaty was
under consideration. He bases his sup-
port of the reservation on the ground
that the Preparations Commission is the
crux OF the entire European problem and
that American membership on that body
would entail responsibilities which would
be far reaching.
The reservation which was supported
by Republican Senators during the fight
over the Versailles treaty reads:
No person Is or shall be authorized
to represent the United States nor
snail any citizen OF the United States
be eligible as a member of any body
or agency established by said treaty
OF peace with Germany. except pur-
suart to an act OF Congress of the
United States providing for his APP
pointment and defining his powers
and duties.
The struggle which Is Joined In this
manner between the Administration and
the irreconcilables or little American"
group Is one which keen observers here
have regarded as inevitable. II repre-
sents the fight between those who be-
lievc. on one side. that the United States
should not participate In world affairs
at all and should maintain n policy Of
Isolation which they themselves describe
In tho terms little Americans"
The development OF foreign POLICY
which has marked the opening days OF
the Harding Administration shows It
has no sympathy with a policy which
would disregard the part which the
United States must necessarily play In
world affairs.
ASs-snistrntion Policy.
At the outset OF its career the Admin
istration made II plain that IL would
have nothing to do with the League of
Nations. Notwithstanding that the al
lied Powers had undertaken to bar the
United States from It's proper sh1rc in
the participation of the fruits OF vic
tory and had undertaken to secure rat
ificatior of the league, this Government
made Il clear that Il was not TO be
moved from it's position OF alignment
with the peoples with whom II had
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