New-York tribune., 1921-06-17
Holt Demands
Plan ofHarding
For w Orld Pact
Leader of Pro-Leaguc Re-
publicans Calls ON Presi-
dent to Define Associa-
tion That He Proposed
Request Made by Letter
Asks if Party Harmony
Is Likely To Be Placed
Above Universal Welfare

Republicans in the last Presidential
campaign, called on President Harding,
ii letter made public yesterday, to
take the American people into his con-
tidence and outline 20 them the asso-
citation of nations he has promised to
the world.
."f you delay much further people
everywhere will inevitably conclude
that you have no concrete plan at ali
or else that you propose to put party
harmony above world welfare" de-
cIared Mr. Holt "In that event there
will be nothing left for those VINO want
America to play her rightful part in
stsbilizing the world but to organize
the country so as to capture Congress
for the league in 1922 and the Presi-
dercy in 1924"
Mr.. Holt pointed out that the Presi-
dent, to obtain two-thirds majority
III the Senate, would have to win some
support from Democratic ranks for
whatever plan he proposed, and in
order to do this he would at least have
to make his plans known. He said that
the League of Nations and Bolshevism
we're the only two great ideas that
came out of the war as world panaceas
and he asked whether the President
could guarantee that the world wouldn't
turn to Bolshevism if he didn't have
something better than the Wilsonian
league to offer.
Mr.. Holt, member of the League to
Enforce Peace, took hand in the
Presidential campaign by making pub
lie list of 100 Republicans who had
bolted the Harding ranks. He also
headed a delegation of pro-league Re-
prblicans that called on President
Wilson.
An Issue Six Years
The text of the letter follows:
1T is now six years that the League
of Nations issue has been before The
country. 1t is now two years that you
as Senator, Presidential candidate,
President ELECT and President have
had the League Of Nations issue Off
cially before you for action
AS Senator you voted to have the
United States enter the existing
league provided the Lodge amend
ments were made part of that act of
ratification.
"As Presidentia, candidate you left
the country and even your own fol-
lowers in doubt as to your attitude.
Thirty-one pre-eminent Republicans
among whom were your Secretary of
State, MIR. Hughes, and your Secretary
of Commerce. Mr.. Hoover-assured
their fellow countryme that you would
go into the existing league. Senators
Borah and Johnson and other 'irrecon-
cilables' assured them you would not.
"As President-elect you did not see
fit to disclose your attitude on the
league beyond what you had said dur
ing the campaign. Both the thirty
one and the 'irreconcilables' claimed
you for their own.
Harvey Speech Mentioned
CAS- President, however, you have
unequivocally repudiated the existing
League of Nations, whose area COM
prises considerably more than half the
ee-quarters of the human race. You
even permitted without rebuke your
ambassador at the Court of st. James's
to say that you will have nothing to
do with any commission or committee
appointed by the league or responsible
to it directly or indirectly. openly or
furtively.'
"You have. nevertheless, as Presi-
Dental candidate, repeatedly promised
during the campaign, and as President
you have reiterated that promise. that
you will seek to establish an Assccia-
tion of Nations based upon the appli-
cation of justice and right, binding US
in conference and cooperation for the
prevention of war and pointing the
way to higher civilization and inter-
national fraternity in which all the
world might share
"You have not yet given the Amer.
lean people the slightest inkling of the
terms of this Harding association that
you propose shall supplant the Wilson
! league. Has not the time come, re-
spectfully ask, for you to do this?
Democratic Support
"Surely you cannot expect the forty
eight members of the present league
TO scrap 1T and come into your asso~
citation unless two things are perfectly
| clear:
First, that the new association is
substantially as good as or better than
the existing league, and,
Second, that this time a proposal
of a President Of the United States will
have the permanent and overwhelming
support of the American people.
You are q statesman of sufficient ex-
perience to know that our people will
not support your association, no matter
how excellent, without the fullest pre-
liminary discussion. Events of the
last two years have demonstrated this.
You cannot, therefore, hope to get
public opinion behind your association
without taking your countrymen into
your confidence.
Even it your own party were com
| pletely united on the issue you would
still have to get some Democratic sup
/ port to assure the ratification of YOUR
association by two-thirds of the Senate.
AS your party was the one that first
made the League party issue, the
Democratic Senators would be only
human now if they turned the tables
and also made your association q party
issue. They control more than a third
OF the votes in the Senate and they
can block you as YOU and your cal
leagues blocked Mr.. Wilson.
Bolshevism Discussed
II you expect to gain Democratic sup
port 1T is incumbent upon you to pro-
pose an association SO concrete and
enective sto commend itself to the
| enlightened sense of both parties.
therefore, the quicker you take the
american people into your confidence
the better.
There is another and even more
important reason why you should dis
close the details of your plan at once.
| The world is on the brink Of revnin.
/ tion, famine and pestilence. The only
Two great ideas that have come out of
TINS war as world pansceas are the
League of Nations and Bolshevism. IF
you repudiate the existing League Ind
deiay, too long suggesting anything in
.es piace you run the very real risk of