Washington telegraph., 1921-04-22
PRESIDENTS FIRST MESSAGE
is DELIVERED TO CONGRESS
HARDING is OPPOSED TO LEAGUE OF NATIONS AND
FAVORS A SEPARATE PEACE READS
HIS OWN MESSAGE.

reductions DN eulcleui management
. of the cost of government
d Business: Less Of government in
I business as well as more business in
. government There is 10 challenge
to honest and lawful business success.
But government approval Of fortunate,
untrammeled business does not mean
liberation Of restraint Of trade or Of
maintained r-ices by unnatural meth
, DDS. Anxious as we are 70 restore the
onward flow Of business, It is fair TO
combine assurance and warning in
one utterance.
Agriculture: The maintained retail
costs i'm perishable foods cannot be
justified Reduced costs Of basic
production has been recorded but
high cost Of living ho- not yielded I'm
like PROPORTION Without the spirit Of
hostility or haste in accusation OF
pronfeering some suitable inquiry by
. Congress might speed the price re-
adjustment to normal relationship with
helpfulnees to both producer and CON
sumer. A measuring rod Of fair prices
viii satisfy the country and give MS
business revival to end all LCpres-
sion and unemployment
Foreign Policy.
These were the principal subjects
touched on in the address, which was
about $500 words I'm length and
large portion Of which was devoted to
the related Subjects Of peace. the
League of Nations and The country's
foreign policy
The presidents discussion Of the
naaca question opened with a definite
declaration 0raius. the existing league.
ON The existing League of Nations,
world governing with its super
powers" says the president, this rec
public win have no part
"Thera cam be no mi7iDtorpratation,
and there vi" De no betrayal of the
deliberate o-r,.-ssirn Of the American
uc1ria I'm the recent ection; and
settled I'm cur decision for ourselves,
IL is only fair to say TO the world in
general and t0 our associates i'm war
+ in particular that the league covenant
can have no sanction by us Mani
testify the highest purpose Of the
League Of Nations was defeated in
linking 10 with the treaty OF peace
and making it the enforcing agency
of the vic.crs OF the war. There can
De no prosperity for the fundamental
purposes sought 90 be achieved by
auy such association. so long as it is
the organ Of any particular treaty or
committed TO the attainment of the
special aims Of any nation or group
. of nations In rejecting the league
covenant end uUering tha reflections to
our own people. and to the world. we
make no surrender Of our hope and
aim for an association 10 promote
peace, I'm which we would most
heartily join. In the national refer
endum Uhe last electionl we pledged
our Efforts toward such association,
and the plelga will be faithfully kept.
. In the plight of policy and perform,
anceIwe told the American people we
| meant to seek an early establishment
of peace. The United States alone
among the allies and associated powers
continues in a technical state Of war
against the Central powers Of Europe.
To Secure Peace.
"The anomalous conditions ought
not TO be permitted to continue To
establish the state of technical peace
without delay 7 should approve a
declarafory resolution by Congress to
. that effect. with the qualifications
essential 20 protect an our rights
Such action would be the simplest
keeping of faith with ourselves, and
could i'm NO sense be construed as d
. aascri8u of those with whom We
shared our sacrifices IN war far these
. powers already are al peace.
"Suel resolution should undertake
10 Go uo more lhm thus TO declare
the state of peace which adj America
. Graves lt must add no difficulty h
, .cT.gdnE. with just raparations The
restoration for which all Europe
graa and upon which the world
. economy must De founded Neither
. former oucmr nor ally can mistake
Americas position because our ats
. uda as 10 responsibility for the wal
. and the necessity for just reparations
, already has had formal and very ear
, nest expression.
"It would be mwisa TO undertak,
, f1 make such statement of future
. policy with respect TO European ai
fairs i'm such q declaration of a state
of peace Iu correcting the faiiur.
. OF the eXecuuye n negotiating The
. most important treaty in the history
Of The nation to recognize the con
stIutel powers of the Senate wt
. wolld go TO the other extreme, equally
. Objectionable, G Congress or the Sen
aIa should assume the function Of the
executive. Our highest duty is IN,
Ln.L NLLro-raa nhnna