Great Falls tribune., 1922-01-27
JOHNSON SAYS
ALLIED DEBT IS
S|NAREF0R US.
Removes N e e d of
League to Drag Amer
lea Into Europe 81 Hates
Cites Russian Bonds in
France as What to Ex-
pect From Refunding.

Washington, Jan. 26.-Announcing
bis opposition to. the pending allied
debt funding bill in its present form,
Senator johnson, of California, re-
publican irreconcilable in the League
of Nations controversy, declared in the
senate that the proposed funding law
would SO involve the United States In
European affairs that you won't need
League of Nations to drag you into
every imbroglio across DE water"
The California senator offered an
amendment providing that agreements
entered into with debtor nations by
the refunding commission created by
treaty should be subject to approval
Of congress. Negotiations to be car
ried on under authority of the pro-
posed act, he declared, would involve
the largest financial transactions be-
world. and for that reason. congress
Stresses Open Diplomacy
The small attendance in the senate
chamber-there being only about q
dozen senators present-was declared
by the senator. who turned his at
tack on the executive sessions Of the
arms conference. He declared that "a
real disarmament program" would have
resulted had the sessions been open
had made his masterful presentation
to all the world "of the things America
would do" He added that develop
ments in the conference had justified
the demand for open sessions.
All of the big things of recent years
have been accomplished I'm the open"
Mr.. Johnson added. He reviewed how
when Mr.. Balfour wanted to lay the
British position before the arms con-
ference. he called for plenary ses-
sion and how, when the French posi-
ton was stated, NJ. BRAND asked to
be allowed to speak in public.
Gives Away Another Right
'Ah, it is because we are approach
ing a new era" the senator went on
that the people have found out that
they have rights and those rights must
be respected"
Reverting to the debt bill. the SEN
ator declared that through it congress
proposed to give away to a commits
sion another of its rights-rights
which, he declared, belonged to the
people of the nation.
Il fear that our system Of checks
and balances is tottering', he continued
Il am afraid that when the proposed
commission functions. the people will
not know what is going on and that
when they do learn, it will be too late
for the settlements already will have
been made
Referring to the suggestion" that
foreign refunded bonds be sold in the
United States. Mr. johnson demanded
to know whether those who favored
such proposal were willing to link
up the United States with Europe
after it had been thoroughly demon
strated that the American people did
not want the league Of nations.
Sees Waste of Liberty Loans
Bring those bonds over here?" the
senator inquired. Look at France!
Russian bonds in the hands of every
peasant and what are they worth? And
how have they interested France in
the Russian wreck
why those who favor this bill say
we are not dealing with the public
purse strings of the nation. We are
working at the very yitals of the
country's finances. / know men who
are almost financially ruined because
they tried to do all that which was
demanded of them in the purchase of
liberty bonds.
I'VE took that money. wrung from
our people in the stress of war times.
turned it over to our associates in
the struggle and now it is proposed
to give them something in payment
which would result only in linking US
inseparably with every foreign con-
troversy."