The Washington herald., 1921-01-03
Symposium Shows Most
Of Members Believe
In Disarmament.
"IRRECONCILABLES"
ARE STILL BITTER
Republicans Skeptical of
Harding's Association
Of Nations.
BY ROBERT BARRY,

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 2.-Letters
of inquiry addressed to members
of this and the next United States
Senate have developed a compre-
hensiVe symposium of the views
of the men who. in the final analy-
sis, will determine whether America
is to have limited membership in
the existing league of nations; is
to join a new association of ma
tions embodying some of the pro-
visions but none of the structure
of the Versailles covenant; or is
to remain alOof from political al
liances, contenting herself with in
dividual agreements for reduction
of armaments and a cirCumscribed
world court for settlement of ju-
diCial questions.
Responses to the QUESTIONABLE
reveal varying views. In the main,
however, they may be summarized
as follows:
Differ as to Organization.
A commanding majority of the
Senate favors American entrance
into some sort of league or assO-
confined to the manner of organiza-
tion.
Fully 9S per cent of the Senate
advocate Limitation of armaments,
and a majority of that number be-
lieve such step could best be
taken through an association of ma
'tiOns.
Establishment of an international
-
ticiable nature, is generally fav-
ored, without regard to party, but
there are differences as to how that
tribunal should be set up and as to
the scope of its authority.
With the exception of the iddecoR-
cilables, compulsory submission to
arbitration of all non-usticiable
questions is favored, but there are
disagreements among Senators with
respect to such a conference of ma
tions assuming the form of a po-
litical alliance.
Pessimistic of Ratification.
Republican Senators who voted to
ratify the treaty of Versailles, en-
bOdying the covenant of the league
of nations. do not now believe it
would be possible to obtain ratifica-
ton on the basis of the Lodge pro-
gram or even more material modi-
fication of the covenant.
Republican "irreconcilables" are
opposed to using the she'll or skele-
ton of the existing covenant They
have won to that view many re-
cruits from among the reservations
lists since election day.
RaDu h1iCaO Senators amOOp fbaD1
many who voted to ratify with the
Lodge reservations, are skeptical
over the prospect of a new associa-
tion of nations" as proposed by the
Prcsident-eleCt. For the most part,
however, such leaders as Senator
Henry Cabot Lodge refrain from ex-
score until Mr.. Harding has an
nounCed his program.
Democratic Senators who voted to
ratify the treaty of Versailles with
the Lodge reservations. despite Pres
ident Wilson's vigorous opposition
to such a course, generally favor
modified membership in the existing
league, although a few would like
further amendment than the Lodge
program contemplated.
Democrats St1lI Firm,
Democratic Senators who opposed
ratification because they agreed
with Mr.. Wilson that the Lodge res
ervations nullified the covenant,
have, with few exceptions, failed to
regard the solemn referendum" or
November as cause for them to
alter their views. They remain con-
sistenr in their stand for American
adoption the Versailles covenant
without destructive change.
Division of opinion as to the
Democratic course with reference to
the Harding program was indicated.
Some Democrats, who will be in the
next Senate, contend that all of the
aims to be sought in the establish
ment of a new association are en-
bodied in the covenant signed at
Versailles and carried into practt-
cal operation" at Geneva, and they
are opposed to a new association
of nations" giving Warren G. Hard
due to traffic violations and petty