The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1921-04-19
.HARD|NG'S PEACE PLAN
. SURPRISE TO CONGRESS
|FAVORS RATIFICATION OF
TREATY WITH EXPLICIT
NOTIFICATIONS.
DEFINITELY REJECTS LEAGUE
Unanimously Applauded When He
Declared United States Will Have
No Part in 1t. Negotiations With
Allies Instead of Germans.

All1eS instead Oh GcIuldIlS.
WASHINGTON.- The Harding
foreign policy was outlined by the
president today in his first address to
congress. Amid tumultous applause by
the overwhelming republican majori-
ties of the house and senate, packed
into the same chamber in which Pres
ident Wilson four years ago appealed
for a declaration of war, President
Harding calmly unfolded his plan for
restoring peace. The message was al
most series of surprises from first
to last. There was one big surprise
in the program as set forth by the
president, but the five hundred-odd
senators and representatives, having
Just screamed and stamped in per-
feet frenzy their approval of the pres
ident's statement that this country
would never enter the existing league,
did not seem to grasp the new feature.
President Harding, after recon-
mending a program OF domestic leg
islation sweeping III its extent, definite
ly rejected the existing league OF na7
lions, urged the adoption of reso-
luton ending the state of war and an
nounced that he would ask for the
ratification of the treaty of Versailles
with explicit reservations and modi-
fications."
Five Steps in Peace Program.
Briefly the presidents program can
be summarized thus;
Notice to the world, served in his
inaugural address, that this govern
ment will never join the existing
league of nations.
Passage of the Knox resolution de-
claring peace with Germany, but with
out any declaration of policy, such as
was embodied in section 5 of the res
olution, and without any instruction
to the president to negotiate treaty
with the former central powers, but
/ containing a clause amply protecting
American rights.
Negotiations with the allied powers
looking to formal approval by this
government of the Versailles treaty
so far only as it affects the rights and
interests of America and its citizens.
Ratification of the Versailles treaty
with such reservations and moditca-
| tions as will secure our absolute Tree
| QOm from UldQVlSdDlS COMMITMENTS
and safeguard all our essential inter
ests.'
Negotiations with the powers OF the
world looking to an association OF ma
lions which will have no super-gov-
| eminent or right to command, but
which will work for peace.
1t is evident Mr.. Harding wants
it understood once and for all that he
washes his hands of the league of ma
tions covenant. I'm the existing mill
taristic league of nations" he says,
"world-governing with its super-pow-
ers this republic will have no part.
| This is meant to be as unequivocal as
| it sounds and seems.
zap Allusion Unmistakable.
Each one of these FIVE steps is de-
pendent upon the preceding one being
accomplished, the president made clear.
Particular emphasis was laid on the
point that until American rights-the
allusion here to zap and other man
dates was unmistakable--has been
recognized by the allies there could
be no going forward.
More important, it would to large
extent withdraw American support
from the re-establishment of sound
economic conditions in Europe, which,
the president pointed out, are largely
dependent upon the settlement of the
reOaratiOn Ol1e SfiOD