The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1922-12-28
BORAH PLAN
is BLOCKED
BY HARDING
Says Senate Action
Now InadviSable
(By Associated Press1

I
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2S.-President
Harding today informed the senate
that action by it on Senator Borah's
plan for an economic and disarmament
conference was not advisable in view
| of what the executive branch of the
| government is already doing Ito be
| helpful"
Just what the steps already taken
or in contemplation by the administra-
ton may be, however, the president
| did not reveal. He said members OF
congress could learn if they would in
quire in the proper way, but that state
department communications on so
delicate subject, obviously could not
be bulletined from day to day
"If congress really wants to help,
he added, "it might well free the hands
of the debt funding commission, which
under the act, creating it, cannot alter
| the interest terms of date of payment
of the war debt" The reparations
question Mr. Harding said, was at the
heart of the European situation. but he
added that the United States could not
dictate the terms of reparatons settle
ment and that it would be futile to call
reparations conference. Senator
Lodge presented the presidents letter
Immediately after the senate convened
and the reading of it by clerk, was
| listened to attentively by senators on
all sides of the chamber.
Blocks Senate Action
The president acted directly to
block senate action after he had con-
suited with Secretary Hughes and
Senator Lodge had visited the White
House and had reported on the prog
ress made on the determined fight al
ready being waged against the Borah
amendment by the administration
4 leaders in the senate.
The letter stated that. while the
senate might properly advise" in re-
gard to international negotiations, its
action on the Borah plan might give
false impressions to European pow
ers" The administration, the presi-
dent said, was trying to be helpful
in the European situation, which has
been given most thorough and
thoughtful consideration for many
months"
Sen. Borah Smiles.
Senator Borah noted on a pad of
paper the high spots of the communi-
cation and smiled broadly at the
presidents declaration that the pro
posed amendment would in effect
give the impression that the execu-
tive branch of the government was
not fully alive" to the present world
situation and that congress could ia
cilitate the work of the debt COM
mission "by freezing the hands of that
body"
Senator McNary, Rep. Ore, gained
the floor after the letters had been
read and began an address in behalf
/, of the Borah proposal which he cham
pioned as measure likely to aid the
American farmer by restoring Europe
and increasing European purchases of
!, American agricultural products. AS
/, an active member of the senate farm
! bloc, Senator McNary declared his op-
! position to an American policy OF
! isolation although he said he knew
his views would arouse what he
termed the international statesmen
i, bloc of the senate.
! Deplores U. S. Inaction
! 81 shall never know" said Senator
McNary, whether it was the stub
, borness of our distinguished Presi-
! dent Wilson, the perversity of the
senator from Massachusetts, Mr..
, Lodge, or the eloquency of the ire
concilables which prevented the Tati-
: fication of the Versailles treaty, yet
shall always think as a mild reser-
vationist that much of the unrest and
hatred existing at this time would not
! have occurred had this treaty con-
tanning the covenant of the league of
!, nations, with the Lodge reservations
i been ratified"
Senator McNary said the Bcrah
amendment would not oblige America
to any aggressive or offensive mill
tary action or precpitate the nation
into any political maelstrom.
The views of the president were
set forth in a letter to Chairman
Lodge of the foreign relations com
. mittee, sent to the capitol to be pre-
sented at the opening of the second
day of debate on the Borah proposal
which is embodied in an amendment
I to the annual naval bill
a The amendment also calls on the
!. president to call another arms limi
Y tatfon conference, but that suggestion
+ Mr.. Harding also resisted in view OF
the position taken by some of the
|, powers at the Washington conference
:, a year ago.