Evening star., 1921-07-02
PRESIDENT At SEA
OVER NEXT STEP IN
RESTORING PEACE
Administration Spokesman
Do Not Know Which Path
Will Be Chosen.
GUARDING U. s. FINANCES
LINKED IN LEAGUE ISSUE
Wish to Cut OFF Part in European
Policies Barred by Peril to
Debt Owed U. S.
by DAVID LAWRENCE.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

AOAASANS So4ANO VAAA w
Debt Owed U. S.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
American foreign policy under the
Harding administration is still an un-
determined fact. President Harding
himself doesn't know exactly how
peace with Germany will be re-estab-
lished after the Knox-Porter resolu-
tion declaring state of peace is on
the statute books repeating all legis-
lation passed during the war.
Neither does Mr.. Hughes know the
formula The highest spokesmen of
the administration officially admit that
they do not yet know which paths
they will choose in seeking to extri-
cate the United States from the anom-
alous position in which our foreign
policy has been ever since President
Wilson declined to accept the reser-
vations of the republican Senate to
the Versailles treaty.
For several days there have been
whispers that Mr.. Harding would re-
submit the Versailles treaty with ex-
plicit reservations, excluding the
league of nations covenant and all
other clauses that might involve the
United States in any obligation to
the "irreconcilable' group in Con-
gress. which is just as much opposed
to the treaty as to the league. slowly
gathered. The whispers have grown
softer. No longer is it repeated that
the President has determined upon a
is said is that Mr.. Harding's words in
his last message to Congress have
not been withdrawn. He declared it
would be wiser for the United States
ito engage under the existing
new treaty.
Mr.. Hughes Carving Treaty.
Secretary Hughes has been carving
the Versailles treaty: 1t has been a
painstaking job. He has done 1t
quietly and without publicity. He
hasn't finished. The big question Of
whether it is practicable to handle
the matter by submitting the Yer
not yet been answered and there is
a lingering hope among the irrecon-
cilables that Mr.. Harding will not
find it wiser" to engage under the
existing treaty. but will make new
treaty after all. Mr.. Harding has
negotiations of a. treaty Of amity ano
commerce with Germany.
The American government could in
clude as many portions OF the YER
sailles treaty as desired and yet not
have the document labeled Versailles
treaty" but then the question arises
as to whether the United states is
entitled to the rights OF victorious
possession which the allies claim were
given the United States along with
versailles treaty be ratified. In other
words, the rights are no longer Ger
many's, but have been handed to the
allies, and the contract in which Ger
many gave those rights away is the
Versailles treaty.
in handy, and he has already solved
many knotty question OF law in the
Department Of State. His logical mind
made simple case out OF the man.
date controversy. and reduced the
Mexican question to plain state
ment of law.
Fear of Conflicting Elements.
But July is here. and the foreign
policy of the administration as it en-
ters the second half of the year has
not been defined largely because OF
fear of conflicting elements in the
Senate on the one hand and an effort
on the other hand to steer clear Of the
wilson policies To date, therefore.
the Harding administration has found
it necessary to use the supreme coun-
Gil as a means of communication with
the rest of the world, and when it
comes to expurgating the Versailles
treaty of those provisions which vest
ed the settlement Of certain questions
in the council Of the league of ma
tions, the American proposal probably
will be to have those same questions
referred instead to the supreme coun-
pecially formed for the purpose.
Some Of those who have been opposed
to the ratification of the Versailles
treaty in any form are wondering why
Mr. Harding bothers with the Versailles
pact or anything European and doesn't
ing into office Mr.. Harding has found
that the payment of the $4,000, 600, 600
owed us by Europe is inseparably bound
up in the reparatiop question and that
matter is in turn vita! part of the Yer
sailles treaty. To safeguard Americas
finances and to enable the American
people to redeem their liberty bonds at
somewhere near their original price the
Harding administration Is playing as
close to Europe as possible without in
volving America in pledges to partici-
pate in future quarrels abroad.
Decision to Protect Interests.
The only thing that has been done
this far in shaping the foreign policy
of the United States is the decision to
stand alongside the allies and work
out an understanding with them
whereby American interests will be
protected. The Versailles treaty is
still on the desk of Mr.. Hughes in the
Department of State, the plan for a
Harding association Of nations is still
on the executive desk in the White
House, and the effort to bring about
an agreement to limit ornaments is
still in the hands of Americas repre-
sentative to the supreme council. Am
bassador George Harvey. who has
confined himself to informal discus
sions. The United States. at any rate.
has not proposed any disarmament
plan to the other nations or taken
the initiative in insisting that the
subject be discussed at a conference
of powers. The greater tasks Of for
eign policy still lie ahead of President
Harding and Secretary Hughes. both
Of whom give the impression that
they are proceeding with caution and
as speedily as they think prudent un-
der the circumstances.