The Colorado statesman., 1921-05-07
VARYING VIEWS
OF THE MESSAGE
SOME FIND 1T ENTIRELY CLEAR,
WHILE OTHERS ASK "WHAT
DOES HARDING MEAN?"
FOREIGN POLICY IN DOUBT
obseureness May Have Been lnten-
tional Since the President Intends
the Executive Shall Deal With In
ternational Affairs, Not the Senate.
BY EDWARD 3. CLARK.

BY EDWARD B. CLARK.
Washington.-If the question were
not such serious one some humor
could be found in the absolutely diff
ferent interpretations which have been
put on President Harding's foreign re-
.latiOns policy as Ii was outlined in his
message to congress. Some Republican
members have said that 1t Is clarity It.
self, while some Democratic members
have said that they would like to com
ment on 1t If they knew what 1t meant.
On the afternoon of the day the mes
sage went to congress, the headlines
in two Washington newspapers were,
mo Separate Peace With Germany"
The headlines In some other papers,
published at little distance from the
capital, were "A Separate Peace With
Germany"
1t is true that precious little time
was given headline writer's, or edl-
torial commenters, between the time
the message was read to congress and
the time Of going to press, to get a
clear understanding of the foreign rela-
tions section of the document. 1t Is
only the truth to say, however, that
even today there are members of con-
gress who declare that they are not
quite clear as to what the future holds
if the administration shall succeed in
carrying out what it outlined, or in
tended to outline, as its foreign policy.
The inference seems to be that Presi-
dent Harding desired that the eXecu-
tive rather than congress should deal
with foreign affairs, excepting the reso-
luton to congress declaring that peace
exists with Germany. Naturally it is
said by some of the Presidents advisers
that he kept back the details concern
ing the intention, for the future in or
der that there might be time to study
the whole subject carefully before
making a definite pronouncement.
How the Factions View It.
Apparently good many members
of congress look on the Presidents
pronouncement on foreign relations
from their viewpoint of the days be-
fore the message was delivered, one
group seeing roseate prospects and an
other group seeing blackness which
shuts out all prospects so far as the
work of help for the world is con-
cerned. The statesmen of Europe. If
the press reflects their state of mind.
seem to be thinking things which they
do not like to express out loud.
There is some humor to be found in
the fact that the so-called irreconcll-
Of hn oil
ables seem equally pleased with the
Presidents pronouncement on foreign
affairs. This is a statement of fact,
not of opinion. 1t was believed in
Washington up to the time that the
message was written that the Presi-
dent would be opposed to a fiat decla
ration declaring that reace exists be-
tween the United States and Germany.
1t is possible even today that some
thing will be added to the peace reso-
luton when it is passed which will in
innate that, while the United States
wishes peace to exist, Germany must
expect, if it ever again breaks bounds
under militaristic rule, that the Uni
ted States will act once more just as
It acted in the great war.
Up to the State Department.
From the message it is learned that
the President wishes that some time
in the future the United States shall
take advantage of some of the sections
OF the Versailles treaty of peace which
the allies agreed to, and weave them
into the American policy 1t is also
apparent from the message that the
President still has in mind an associa-
tion of nations of some kind to en-
deavOr along moral and persuasivet
lines to keep the peace of the world.
1t will be the duty of the State de-
partment from now on to evolve
the things which the President en-
deavored to outline in his message.
Nearly every national legislator who
has spoken on the subject agrees that
some of the Presidents sentences need
elucidation. The Republicans in con-
gress seem generally to agree that Mr..
Hardings apparent lack of clearness
in one or two cases was Intentional
because he wanted to reserve for the
executive department lue right u ACT
first in foreign affairs and not to give
away its hand In advance.
Harding In Many Clubs.
President Harding belongs to
nearly every club and citizens
organization in the city of Washington
by right of honorary membership. He
became an active member of two or
three clubs while he was a senator of
the United States, and therefore he is
no stranger personally in some of the
clubhouses and on several of the golf
links of the District of Columbia.
All Presidents have felt the need of
outdoor exercise. In fact, their physi-
clans have told them that If they did