The Washington herald., 1921-11-12
LEADERS DECIDE
MOTTO EMBARRASS.
HARDING'S PLANS
Believe This Attitude
( Will Help Chances
For Success.
WANT ALL FACTS
As Part Of Treaty-Making
Power, Senators Demand
Full Information.
WANT ALL FACTS
by JOHN GLEIssNER.

The Senate is almost bending
backward In It's efforts to do moth
irg that would embarrass the sue
cess of the conference on the limi-
tatiOn of armaments.
Inquiry among Senator's of vary
ing opinion reveals an anxiety to
maintain a "hands-off' policy, so
the administration may go forward
without interference of any sort.
, Individual Senators, OF course. In
few instances, do not conform to the
predominant spirit And there Is a
disposition on the part OF some, re-
calling the activities of the Senate
while the Paris Peace Conference
was in progress. to stir up a little
trouble now so the shoe may pinch
the other foot
Adds to Success Chances.
But the feeling in the main is
that the Senate should refrain from
discussions, passing resolutions ana
making inquiries that might be dis
pleasing to the President and his
advisers.
This attitude of the Senate is i'm
uUrtant, and will increase the pos
sibilities for success of the confer
ence- The Senate has coordinate
power in treaty making, and an at
ii thde of hostility and opposition
zsfight easily set at nought the de-
Vibrations. Foreign governments
had an illustration of what the SEN
ate could do.
But this does not mean the Sem
ate will assume a detached position
or will not interest itself in the pro-
ceedinEs. The question Of the rela-
tive powers Of the administrative
and legislative branches, about
which so many factors in the Presi,
DENTAL campaign revolved, coulo
easily come to the front again.
wouId Resent COncealment.
A b.IIef that the administration
was proceeding without popular
Guidance, or was attempting to con-
caal essential facts, entering INTO
an understanding, "osN COMMITTING
the country to q policy or program
without legislative consent wouIu
provoke trouble as real as tna'
which grew out Of the Paris neso-
tiations-
o,strated the desire of the coun-
try for a iArBo ooeASS - =.
superyision of foreign relations. IL
r.9ards the American delegates as
agents of the government, ana con-
elders Il has the same right to direct
tbem as II has to direct other rep
resentatives of the government II
e disposed to give the delegates
ALI possible latitude, and to inter-
Tsre In no way with whatsts being
done. But the interference would
come, and It would be vigorous, II
the delegates did things which
would run counter to the Senates
views, or ignored its prerogatives-
Must BE Kept Informed.
The Senate must, Of course, re-
view and approve-or disapprove-
any agreements or conclusions that
grow out of the conference. Its
ratification of treaties would be nee
essary, and II would object to ''un-
derstanding,"' which. while unwrit-
ten, nevertheless would have the
force of a treaty, unless Senate ap-
prevail were given.
For this reason, the administra-
ton is expected to keep the Senate
welI-informed, and solicit opinion
and advice as the conference pro-
; ceeds. This was done in the process
of making peace with Germany,
and would serve to quiet In advance
the opposition that any plan-no
matter what II is-will arouse when
it comes before the Senate.