The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-03-29
HUGHES STAGES A
WAR FOR LEAGUE
Karding's Premier Set to
End Foreign Affairs
Wrangle
HOOVER ENDORSES
STATE SECRETARY

Believe Harding Will Yield to Cabinet
Pressure-Senate Remains Opposed to
Pact-French Enjoys Visit of Vast
Moment.
| WASHINGTON, March %. - The
coming of Rene Viviani to the United
States promises to bring to a head a sit
uation which the Harding administra-
ton, there is reason to believe, is deter
mined to resolve That the visit of the
French statesman is resented by the ir-
reconcilable group in the senate is an
open secret, but less Importance was at
tached to it until the personal statement
,of NJ. Viviani, given to the press Sun
day, was seen to commit him unequivo-
Cally as a propaganda for the league of
nations. This and the statements given
out by Andre Tardieu are taken here as
the elimination of the European drive
to force the United States to accept the
league, even if with such reservations
as American statesmen may dictate. The
visit of the distinguished Frenchman
bids fair to cause something of an ex-
plosiOn between the White House and the
senate, for the greater the pressure aD-
piled against the United States by the
advocates of the league, the StOuter the
resistance by the senate irrecOncilabicS.
They declare vehemently their belief
that President Harding will not submit
the treaty of Versailles to the senate and
they argue that rs a natural consequence
the senate viii have nothing to travel
on in the way of league discussion if
the treaty remains downtown. 1t Is as
serted, moreover that practically all are
opposed to the league and will stand
against it With senator Lodge.
Hughes May Act Quickly.
The situation grows intensely inter
esting because of the report sedulously
that Secretary of State Hughes is deter
mined to settle this great international
question without much loss of time. Not
only that. but he is convinced that bust
ness stability even in the United States
viii prove impossible unless the league
issue is settled. Tdis Is known to be
also the view of Norbert Hoover; and
several weeks study of the new preSi-
dent has convinced some careful ObSerV-
erS that should Secretary Hughes, with
the sympathy of Secretary Hoover, an
nounCe a policy TO which Europe would
be asked to agree. the president would
not stand out against it. Indeed. IL Il
believed here that Mr.. Hughes accepted
the portfolio with the distinct dctermln-
alton to make great record in clear
international
with the solid support OF American bust
ness men he would possess a lever which
would pry apart almost anything. Tho
policy of drift Is foreign TO the nature of
Mr.. Hughes, and the irreconCilable@
might very well be on their guard
against a program which would defer
too much to the league idea, from their
point of view. Most of the senate Re
publicans including nearly all the irrcc
oncilables are prepared to stand for all
the Harding policies. whatever they may
be, except enc which would surrender
their position on the league of nations.
\ split would be inevitable should the
Hughes plan be found unacceptable by
men like Senators Lodge. Mccormick
and Moses
This is a fact which must be faced
alike by. President Harding and NJ. Eivi-I
ami, should the latter contemplate max
ing representations here in line with his
statement cabled from France. This set
forth vigorously the inadeQuacy of n
court of justice such as has been pro
posed as a substitute for the league,
without power TO enforce its own decl-
sions, and it admitted a merging of SOW
ereiGnties for the purposes for which
the league would be organized. The
visit of Niviani Is believed to be the pre-
liminaTy to negotiations for a complete
mcnt of all the features which the sen
ate has regarded as Objectionable, with
the ultimate purpose of bringing the
United States into such an association
or conference" with foreign powers as
would make US participant in the de-
CisiOns which must be reached in the
stabilizing OF the affairs Of the world.
Heavy Pressure on Senate.
1t may be long before such plans asl
are here family outlined assume conf
crete form. but that they constitute the
main purpose OF the Harding admins
tration and the hope of the French gov
eminent can hardly be doubted In
other words the senate is about to bel
placed under a wellnigh universal pres
sure to accept the league scheme in al
roundabout way. 1t is regarded as cx-
trcmely fortunate that Senator Lodge
is about to assume prominence in the
discussions. He win be among the first
to meet the French statesman and he
will become the pivot upon which much
will turn. A program acceptable to-
Senator Lodge and to the state depart
mcnt is desired AZ the smooth way out
of the situation. Should such agreement
be found impossible, there can be little
doubt that the secretary of state would
launch his n19n and call uDOn the Amer