The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1922-02-07
UNITED STATES WILL
DECLINE SEAT At GENOA
AMERICA is OPPOSED TO THE
FRENCH AND RUSSIAN MIL
ITARY PLANS, 1T IS SAID.
NEED EXPECT FEW FAvORS.

ciples This Country Is UNFOLDING
1t Would Be Unable to Agree to
Conclusions Likely to Be Reached.
Not wishing to rush. into a series of
commitments which it may regret later
on the United States, judging by the
present outlook in Washington, will
not participate in the world economic
conference at Genoa, Italy, in March.
Should, however, France change her
militaristic attitude and Russia give
satisfactory assurance that it will dis
band is army, there is a possibility
that this country may change its mind.
But it is only a possibility. For opin-
ion appears to be crystalizing at Wash
ington that Europe need expect few
favors from the United States after
the stand of certain Old World ma
tons at the Washington arms confer
ence.
The matters to which the United
States has entered objection are so
fundamental and far-reachingI that
there is little likelihood that Europe
can meet the American viewpoint. As
a Consequence of this condition it is
virtually certain that delegates from
the United States will not be around
the conference table in Genoa when
the conference is called to order.
Has Not Officially Declined.
President Harding is not expected
to issue any official announcement re-
garding representation at the Genoa
meeting until after the disarmament
conference in Washington has con-
cluded its labors and the treaties draft
ed have been submitted to the senate.
The president, it is declared in
Washington, does not propose to have
an American delegation going to Eu-
rope at the moment there are threats,
however vague and improbable, of
stanch opposition and possible rejec-
ton of such covenants as the four
power Pacific treaty, the flve-power
naval reduction agreement, and the
nine-power continental treaty Tor Chi
ma.
The attitude of this government re-
garding attendance at the economic
conference in Italy has been shaped
by Secretary of State Hughes, and is
said to have the hearty approval of
senate and administration leaders By
the administration and the senate lead
ers France is regarded as the greatest
obstacle to any concerted effort by the
powers which might otherwise prom
Use the economic rehabilitation OF Eu-
rope.
The attitude OF the United States IS,
in brief, that so long as France insists
upon imperialistic policy, policy that
~ a;nfaoaoca nf great
standing army and the creation OF
powerful navy costing in the aggre-
gate more each year than the total
revenues of the nation, the United
States cannot expect to accomplish Tor
the economic Improvement of Euro
pean conditions or consistently to take
part in negotiations which are based
upon principles and purposes to which
this nation is fundamentally opposed.
France Foe of Disarmament.
Among all of the nations represent
ed at the disarmament conference III
Washington, France is the only one
that absolutely refuses either to accept
the disarmament principles laid down
or to agree with the spirit the Unit
ed States attempted to infuse into that
gathering
When the invitation to Genoa was
discussed at the white house President
Harding was of the opinion that the
United States should accept but Sec
rotary Hughes was strongly opposed
and was supported by senate leaders.
Secretary Hughes held that this ma
ton would not be led into any PAR
ticipation at reopened discussier3 OF
German Preparations, and that, with
France and Russia maintaining atti-
tude Numerically opposed to the prin-
ciples this country is upholding in in
ternational affairs and opposed also to
sound economic doctrine, the United
States would find itself unable to agree
to such conclusions as the conference
itself is likely to reach. The senate
has been aroused by the attitude of
France. With the bill authorizing
refunding of the debts of foreign ma
tions before ii, the senate is forced to
regard the possibilities of payments
from the different nations and France
is one from which nothing is expect
ed in the immediate future because the
French military establishment is fore
ing France deeper and deeper into
debt.