The daily times., 1921-07-01
ADMINISTRATION
ACCEPTED BORAH
ON DISARMAMENT
OPPOSITION ABANDONED
The Reasons That Lie Back of
The Administrators Change
of Policy Have Not Been on
the Surface at All. Presiden
Has Right to Negotiate With
Foreign Powers.
(By David Lawrence)


Copyright 1921 by Daily Times
Washington, June 3O.-Senator
Borah of Idaho, champion of disarm-
ment, stands out today as victor in
the first contest with the Harding
Administration. Reluctant for reason
never divulged, the Administration at
first frowned upon Mr.. Borah's ef-
forts to push the disarmament quest
ion to the front, then conceded the
point and passed the word to Re-
publican Senators that no objection
was entertained to their support of
the measure and finally made an ef-
fort through Republican leader Mon
dell of the House to get a broad
resolution passed which would cover
military as well as naval disarm-
ament. That last proposal of the Ad-
ministratioh was finally abandoned
in the House and the Borah resolu-
tion came through with flying eolors.
The reasons that lie back of the
Administrations change of policy
have not been on the surface at all
and several Republicans who watch
sentiment in the country have insist
ed that whatever the form which the
disarmament proposals may take the
House could not afford to get into a
down the Borah idea of a three
power conference-Great Britain,
japan and the United States.
The truth is the Borah resolution
doesn't prevent the Executive from
summoning a conference of all the
powers nor does it inhibit Mr.. Hard
| ing from including land armament as
well. The President has the right to
negotiate with foreign powers about
any subject under the sun and no
matter what agreement he negotiated
Congress would have the final say as
to the stoppage of appropriations for
! naval or military armament.
The Administration forces have not
relished the idea of being led by Sen
ator Borah. In the past all import
ant policies sanctioned by an Admin
istration have been initiated by the
spokesmen of the Administration in
the House or Senate. In hits case Sen
ator Lodge took little part in the
proceedings. Republican leader Mon
tion were abandoned. 1t was decided
to yield to Mr.. Borah
Explanations given today vary
Some said the desire of the Executive
was to get Congress busy on mucf
more vital matters of business thar
mere expression of opinion which
after all is what the Borah resolu
ton does. It doesn't accomplish dis
, armament. 1t requests the Presiden
to confer with other powers and dis
cuss the matter. It's always Ions
way from discussion to achievement
in foreign affairs.
Nevertheless the forcing of the Ad
ministration's hand on a problem 81
big in the public mind as disarm
ament has not passed without signi
| ficant comment on all sides to thu
effect that Republican leadership il
Congress is not making the most o
Republican opportunities. The chanc'
, to grasp the disarmament question
and make it an administration polio.
from the start was politically an ex
cellent one. Members of the Hous
recognized it by their refusal to sid
: track the Borah measure for an,
new proposition that might mean
/ delay in getting vote.
D From all sides President Harding ha
been urged from the very beginning
1 of his Administration to assume tn
E leadership in disarmament through
1 out the world. 1t has been pointe
!, out that his opportunities to rid tn
4 European countries of the heavies
: part of their tax burdens have bee
II Continued on Page 3D.