The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-04-06

PRESIDENT Desires Freedom OF ACTION
When Handling Foreign Problems II
Bitter Fight Foreseen - Democrats
to BE Factor, too.
. ~ BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Especial Despatch to The Reformer.l
t.<. Copyright 1921.
WASHINGTON, April 6.-President
Harding has passed successfully through
the first stage of what had been feared
| would be an era of domination by the
senate of the acts of the executive. The
president has indicated, for instance,
f, that he is not averse to the introduction
of the Knox resolution declaring a state
of peace between Germany and the
| United States, but that the executive
wishes to maintain control of the phrase
ology of the resolution because of the vi
| tai part that it will play in conducting
| the foreign relations of America in the
next few years.
| The senate ''irreconcilables." who have
/ been from the outset opposed to the
| league of nations and the treaty of Ver-
| sailleS. have shown a tendency to ride
| their program through with the same an
| ti-league ardOr that gave them mOmen-
| tum during the last session of congress.
/ but the shoe is on the other foot now.
| The senate, on the one hand, has its
| views. but the executive has intricate
| problems to handle in negotiating with
| foreign governments. Mr.. Harding,
| therefore, is urging that the senate pro-
| coed slowly and do nothing that will
| take out of his hands a certain freedom
| of action which the white house and
| department of state must maintain 50 as
! to preserve American rights and conserve
| American claims UTpXVlnU ont Of rho
| If certain reports We're to be believed, eS
pecially reports inspired by the ''irrecOn-
| cilables.'' who have been filling the ears
of former Premier Niviani and his party
with anti-league talk, the public might
| assume that a separate peace with Ger
many was almost an accomplished fact.
| The national capital has seen too many
plans go awry, since the outbreak OF the
European war, to accept hastily the
suggestion that the Knox resolution can
be rushed through the senate.
Will Oppose Armed Aid.
Already the groups are arising to make
the debate prolonged one. The align
ments will differ from those which were
witnessed in the treaty fight and the
| by "nationaliStS. For Senator Borah
and Johnson. assisted perhaps by Senator
| Brandegee of Connecticut. are strongly
opposed to the inclusion in the Knox res
/ olution of clause which would pledge
the aid of America in the event that
world peace was again disturbed AZ it
| was in the last decade. To one group in
the senate this is as obnoxious as any
thing in Article ten. for senators Borah
| and johnson have maintained that Amer
| lean troops ought not to be sent over
| seas again. unless the safety of the
/ United STATES itself is threatened. This
opposition cropped up when the Knox
resolution was first considered in the
senate foreign relations committee and
the famous paragraph five" was finally
eliminated. 1t is repeated today from
the capitol by the friends of the Knox
resolution and is again the signal for
| fireworks i'm the BOrah-JOhnSon camp.
| Opposition to the Knox resolution inside
| the Republican camp will depend largely
on the phraseology. but it is certain that
| there cen be no reconciliation between
| the extreme Nationalist, on the one
hand. and those who favor some degree
of international cooperation, whether
expressed in an association of nations,
or in a general pledge TO come to the aid
of Europe. if world peace is again mem
aced But still another group will fight
| the Knox resolution. namely the Demo-
cratic minority. Senator Underwood of
| Alabama Democratic leader. will be back
| in a few days and will confer with other
party leaders as to the policy that will
| be pursued