The Washington times., 1921-04-13
SENATE BACKS
.HARD|NCPLAINS'
Hapgood Finds Republican
Members Ready to Cooperate
On League Issue.
BY NORMAN HAPGOOD.

BY NORMAN HAPGOOD.
President Harding confirmed his
leadership yesterday. On vast is
sues, foreign and domestic, he gave
sharply defined opinions, and they,
by no means always followed the
lines Of least resistance.
Some Of the most important Of
them were what he had thought out
and determined on for himself.
LEAGUE ISSUE SCRAPPED.
On foreign affairs he left no doubt.
He scrapped the existing covenant
OF the League of Nations entirely.
His inaugural had already made that
policy perfectly clear, but~yesterday
he took away the last vestigc OF an
excuse for snybodys misunderstand-
ing him.
But the bitter-endcrs by no means
had their way entirely. He treated
the creation OF an Association of Ma
tions as a solemn pledge of the cam
pa Ign that he meant to carry out. He
drove In his conviction that working
out such a plan was the Executives
business, though when il was worked
out he would come to the Senate for
their advice, and he expected their
cooperation.
Wilson. he implied. had not suni-
cicntIy co-opersted with the Senate
But II would be equally objection
able II Congress or the Senate should
assume the functions of the Execu-
tive"
The purpose OF this new "Interns-
tional Association for Permanent
Peace" is to prevent war. preserve
peace and promote civilization"
LIMIT ON ASSOCIATION.
II is for the purpose of binding us
in conference and cooperation for the
prevention of war" I'VE pledged
ourselves toward such association and
the pledge will be faithfully kept"
But the limitations of this associa-
tion are put emphatically. and exactly
in line with the inaugural. although
with amplifications. I'VE can have
no part in a committsl to any agency
OF force in unknown contingencies"
Moreover, the association cannot be
IAN organ of any particular treaty.
IL cannot be committed to the special
aims of any nation or group of ma
tions." IL is to be 'unassisted with
the passions of yesterday"
HIS TREATY STAND.
So much for the League and it's
successor. How about the treaty
apart fro<l the League? The Presi-
dent finds ii unacceptable 1t repre-
sents the present facts and many
rights we claim arc based on clauses
in that treaty.
Our peace engagements cannot
ignore the old world relationships
and the settlements already effected.
nor is IL desirable to do so in pre-
serving our own rights and contract
ing our future relationships"
THE wiser course would seem to
be the acceptance of the confirma- =
ton of our rights and interests as
already provided and to engage un-
der the existing treaty. assuming, OF
course. that this can be satisfactorily
accomplished by such explicit reser-
vations and notifications as will Sc
cure our absolute freedom from in
advisable commitments and safe
guard our essential interests"
VICTORY FOR HUGHES.
The description OF the principles on
which our negotiations with Europe
will be conducted represents a VIC
tory for Charles Evans Hughes. A
sharp but courteous duel has been
and certain groups of Senators, and
Hughes has won.
Hughes does no talking outside. he
seeks no controversies but he out
lines his policies and sticks to them.
He has persuaded the President that
his views are the clearest and most
practicable In sight.
1t is Questionable II the Highcs
policy gets by without a fight, but
the best bet Is that IL will get
through. The majority Senate lead
ers will stand by II. although they
may offer notifications when the
plan is before them.
1t cannot escape attention that while
President Harding emphasized the
need and the duty of effective relief
for injured soldiers, he at every men,
ton OF the subject limited IL to cases
Of need. II is:
Defenders in the world war who
need the supporting arm of the Gov
ernment."
1t is again:
"The crippled soldiers and those
the Government"
Again II is:
"The crippled and DEPENDENT
And:
I'VE must strengthen rather than
weaken the moral flber OF the bene-
ficiaries."
He recommends that all the relief
he centralized under a director
general OF service TO war veterans"
Enthusiastic support is given in the
speech to improved world facilities by
cables and radio communication and