The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-11-23
NAVAL AGREEMENT, F SIGNED, MEANS
 NATIONS LEAGUE
Harding Agreement, How ever, Not so Abhorrent as That for Which Wilson
 Gave His Health
By HUGH W. ROBERTS Washington Bureau, The Age-H Hert
 800 Davidson Bufl

800 Davidson Building.
 Washington, November 22.-(Spe- cial.)-Nations which enter into sol- emn agreement regarding limitation of armament. and which must for at least 10 years cooperate respecting that agreement, form a covenant or league of nations.
 But the term is not as abhorent to republicans today as it was when ex-President Wilson returned from Versailles. "Entangling European al- liances" Is not a term as terrifying as In other days. But there are a few members of Congress who, If in dications count for anything, will op- pose the treaty to be submitted by President Harding as aggressively as they opposed the covenant of the League of Nations. Senator's Borah. Johnson and Reed, all as anxious now for disarmament as they were then for world peace, show signs of dis approving methods by means of which the desired ends can be reached.
 The iconoclasts, in other words, are at work. They are abetted by Hearst newspapers. But they will be unsuc- GCSSlul, It IS luulCdl6u. OT the Ing agreement will have the support of the administration senators, and the democrats will not oppose 1t sim- ply because the republicans opposed the covenant of the League of Ma tions.
 Cries of sWoIf-
 The old cry is again heard that international bankers are plotting to get the United States in Europe; that any agreement for peace can only lead to war. and that the cap tains of industry and prospective profiteers want war and are planning it. It is even "depIored" in a certain Washington newspaper that Harding is as much "dupe" of international bankers IS "Woodrow Wilson was"
 Because the conference has gone into executive sessions to consider the details of the various proposals of the various nations, Senators Borah and Johnson are seeing red" Daily their articles appear in Washington newspaper. They argue that all sessions should be public, and that the galleries should be daily en- tertained by spectacular debates and the clash of international celebrities. The conference is following the lead. in great part, of the Senate where all preliminary details of proposed legislation are worked out in com mittees.
 Senator Johnson. to bolster up his argument that all sessions should be in the open, refers to the immediate and enthusiastic response of the American people to the first state ment-in public-of Secretary Hughes. He contends that if proposals could be cited in public. the consideration of their details could likely be under taken In public
 The Dangerous StnEc.
 The conference 1t Is indicated, has reached the doubtful stage Tn the beginning, there was no question in the mind of the public but that the other powers could not turn down the American proposal without stulti- lying themselves. The agreements, openly expressed. of other nations were taken absolutely at their face value. Nothing was allowed for "res- ervations."
 And now since these "reservations'' are being considered in secret. and all that reaches the public is in the form Of communiques, political wiles are scented. It does seem to be clear; 1t doesn't seem 10 be fair; it does not seem to be honest. At any rate. the ''doubting Thomases" are on their soap boxes and their audiences are large and growing.
 There are delicate problems. it is learned beyond all question. And there is always the possibility that the conference will result in failure admitted failure. But it comes direct to this bureau that nothing at pres ent on the horizon Is of such melan- choly import as to indicate a perma- nent inability to arrao