The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-04-12
NO SEPARATE
GERMAN PACT
SAYS HARDING
Would Be Inadequate, Tells
Congress-Would Approve
Declaratory Resolution
Ending State of War.
POINTS TO WISE COURSE
tBY Associated Press)

WASHINGTON, April 12-President
Harding in his first address to con
gress today announced that he would
approve "declaratory resolution" by
congress with qualifications essen
tial to protect all our rights" which
would end the technical state of war
against the central powers of Europe"
The president added, however, that
1T would be idle TO declare for sepa-
rate treaties of peace with the central
powers on the assumption alone thai
these would be adequate because the
situation is so involved that our peace
engagements cannot ignore the old
world relationship and the settlements
already effected, nor is it desirable to
do so in preserving our own rights and
contracting our future relationships"
Points Wise Course
Although declaring unreseryedly
against the existing league of ma
tions" the president said the wise
course would seem to be the accept
ance Of the confirmation of our right
and interests as already provided and
to engage under the existing treaty.
assuming of course that this can be
satisfactorily accomplished by such
explicit reservations and notifications
as will secure our absolute freedom
from inadvisable commitment and
safeguard all our essential interests
An association Of nations, the presi-
dent said. could not be founded until
! the world was at peace
Receives Demonstration.
President Harding's declaration that
| the United States would have no part
| In the present league of nations was
received with great demonstration
| Republican members of the senate
and house, who with members of the
| cabinet crowded the house chamber TO
hear the president deliver his message
in person, applauded vigorously. The
| demonstration quickly grew into
cheering, the Republican members
standing. The galleries joined into the
demonstration and it was some nin-
uteS before quiet was restored.
| The Democratic members, MAN.
with stolid faces and folded arms did
not join in the demonstration. Sena.
tor Hitchcock, of Nebraska. who led
the long fight in the senate in favor
of the league, smiled broadly. however.
! Applause Interrupt.
! Frequent applause from the Repub-
llcan side interrupted over portions of
/ the Presidents Statment on the
| league. Peace by congressional reso-
luton, also met with demonstration
of approval but there was no applause
for the suggestion that the peace
! terms Of the treaty of Versailles be
ratified with safeguarding reserva-
! tions.
J The Presidents address required 81
minutes for its reading. His conclud-
| ing statement regarding the peace and
/ the league was delivered slowly with
solemn emphasis The audience rose
and cheered as the President finished.
! tucked his nose glasses in his pocket.
! shook hands with V. p Coolidge and
| Speaker Gillett and left the hall
Must Consider Treaty.
Getting down to work after reading
of the message the Senate planned to
! begin debate at once on the s25 900, 900
Colombian treaty. Senator Lodge, of
| Massachusetts, Republican leader hav-
ing served notice yesterday that he
, would move for open discussion and
himself make the initial speech in be-
| half of ratification. Several other
! senators were prepared to discuss the
treaty which under the previous agree
ment will come up for final vote on
April 20.
In addition to treaty debate, intro,
! duction of bills and resolutions was
the order in the senate today. this
having been deferred yesterday pend
| ing the reading of the Presidents
message, although hundreds of mea-
sures were presented in the house
i These included the emergency tariff
bill, which as the first business on
the house calendar will come up for
| debate tomorrow, with leaders hope
! full of prompt passage.