The Washington herald., 1922-12-23
PAR[EY.
PLAN ASSA|LED
BY SENATORS
IrreconciIabIes Bitter in Up-
position to the Proposal for
an Economic Conference
DEMOCRATS ARE GLEEFUL
Amendment to Naval Bill Not
Expected to Receive Vote
: Needed for Consideration
By JAMES R. NOURSE.
Unlversal Service.

By JAMES R. NOURSE.
Universai Service.
Senator Borah's proposal to have
the United States Join the nations
of Europe in a conference to dis
cuss economic problems, including
reparations, encountered strong
opposition among his Senate col
leagues.
JOHNSON OPPOSES.
Senator Poindexter assailed the
plan during debate on the Naval
bill to which Borah seeks to attach
the proposal as an amendment.
Senator johnson. Of California,
announced he would oppose the
proposal with all the vigor with
which he Joined Borah in fighting
the League Of Nations. His objec-
tions to the plan will be either in
the form Of O public statement or
a speech in the Senate.
Senator Brandegee. Of Connecti-
cut, also declared himself opposed
to another conference. He is
against the House plan Of a con-
ference to discuss further limita-
ton of naval construction. and also
against Borah's plan for a discus
sion Of economic questions.
LODGE TAKES HAND.
Senator Lodge will address the
Senate. probably on Wednesday, In
-
sort Of conference.
johnson, Poindexter and Brande-
gee adhere to the principle for
which they contended In the league
fight, that there should be no en-
tanglement OF the United States in
the affairs of Europe, either mill
tary, financial. territorial. or any
other kind. They have not depart
ed from their irreconcilable posi-
ton. and all confess their inability
has shifted his viewpoint.
DEMOCRATS CHUCKLE.
Democratic pro.leaguers chuckled
to themselves with enjoyment over
what appears to them to be COM
plete departure by Borah from
views once strongly held by him in
support Of the policy Of aloofness.
Some of the "irreconcilables." in
private talks with Borah. sought to
obtain an explanation of his appar-
ent change of front. His answer
was that he did not believe his pro-
posal would result in any "politi-
cal involvement" on the part Of the
United States, but would put the
force Of American public opinion
behind the adjustment of the repa-
rations controversy.
Borah spoke in the Senate yester-
day, while the Naval bill was up,
discussing the race for naval arma-
ment now going on in Europe. He
did not touch on the proposed con-
ference. but will speak on that
when the amendment Is up for dis
cussion. He served notice in writ
ing that he would move to sus.
pend the rules to make his amend
ment in order as part Of the Naval
bill.
NEEDS TwO.THIRDS VOTE.
Such a motion would require a
two-thirds vote. and it is doubt
full II Administration leaders will
permit two-thirds of their members
to support 1t. II the motion Is de-
feated, the Borah amendment would
die, because a point Of order against
it would serve automatically to
eliminate it from the bill.
Borah said England. France and
Germany are unable to pay their
debts, the worlds Indebtedness be-
ing placed at $3.50 900 900 900. He
declared that If the race for naval
| armament is continued the addi-
tional tax burden upon the people
will be staggering. He said the
pending bill was framed in the be-
lief among army and navy officers
that 1t is necessary for the United
States to prepare for another war,
and asserted that the United States
| should put its disapproval on the
| programs Of naval construction be-
| ing carried on by European nations.
POINDEXTER RETORTS.
Senator Poindexter replied sharp
ly to Borah. declaring that the
| arms conference went as far as
il was possible to go in the
direction Of reducing armaments,
| and that he did not believe any.
thing could be accomplished by an.
other meeting. He pointed out that
nations which accepted the findings
| of the arms conference found IL
| easy to discover other WAYS of
keeping UP their race for arma.
ment after agreeing to build no
| more battleships.
The only way to arrive at a con.
| dition Of peace among the nations,
he added. 10 by creating the will
for peace.
Western Play Cancelled,
Fire Ron IN Ccoun.,