The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-12-28
President
Negotiates
for Parley
Lodge Says Harding Is Sound.
ing Out Sentiment for Inter.
national Conference OH
European Problems.
Opposes Borah Proposal

Washington. Dec. 27.-(By A. P)
The first officia! disclosure that
President Harding is negotiating to.
ward an international conference for
the consideration OF European eco.
nomic problems was made by Sena-
tor Lodge of Massachusetts,, the re.
publican floor leader, during opening
debate In the senate on the proposed
OF Senator Borah. republican. Idaho,
for the president to call an interna-
tional conference to discuss economic
conditions and disarmament.
= In opposing the Borah proposal,
which is in the form of an amend
.nent to the naval appropriation bill.
Senator Lodge urged that the presi-
dent be not embarrassed "in the ef-
forts which he. is now MAX
ing as a matter of fact"
Senator Lodge, in the course Of an
hours address against the Borah
amendment as presented, did not op-
pose the calling of an economic con-
ference. but said 1t should be care
fully and strictly defined with such
questions as reparations. allied debts
and immigration specifically exclud-
ed from consideration.
State Department Silent.
The State department, which has
consistently maintained silence as TO
any efforts the administration might
be making in reference to improving
economic and business conditions in
Europe. declined to add anything to
the statement of Senator Lodge, but
it was learned that President Hard
ing was considering most seriously
transmitting a letter 20 the senate
giving information OF his negotia-
tions and at the same time deploring
any Intervention from congress which
might operate to hinder his efforts.
1t is understood that through the
State department, the president has
been sounding out" several powers
regarding the desirability OF holding
an econocic conference. Whether the
proposed conference would be called
by or held in the United States, or
whether this nation would be a par
ticipant were, however, important de-
tails not disclosed.
Discussed in Senate.
The Borah amendment was dis
4 kcussed for four hours in the senate,
Senator'S Lodge and Lenroot, republt
can. Wisconsin, speaking in opposi-
ton. and Senator's Borah and VIII
liams. democrat, Mississippi. In be-
half of the proposal. No action was
taken on the question and further
debate went over until Thursday
The opening debate on the amend
ment developed the full force OF ad-
ministration disapproval as drafted
and also bipartisan support and op-
position. Administration leaders
mapped out a program to defeat the
amendment on parliamentary point
of order if possible, and on a direct
vote if the parliamentary point
should fail.
Before the senate convened about
80 republican senator's gathered in
the Office Of Senator Lodge and
planned the fight against the Eorah
proposal. 1t was arranged that SEN
ator Poindexter, republican, Wash
ington, in charge of the naval bill.
should make the point OF order that
the amendment WIS not Sermaue and
went far beyond the provision incor-
porated in the bill by the house for
a conference to consider armament
limitation with reference to naval
military and naval aircraft.
Expect to Defeat Amendment.
Republican and also democratic
leaders said they believed the par
liamentary point would be sustained
and the Borah amendment thrown out.
The republican leaders arranged, how
ever, to carry on the fight IL the
point should be overruled and, as
last resort. propose amendments. If
necessary to prevent the reparations,
A&he allied debt and other questions be-
ing considered, II the conference
should be called. Senator Hitchcock
of Nebraska, ranking democrat on the
foreign relations committee, and 9th.
er democratic senator's also were con.
sidering amendments II the Borah
proposal should be brought to a
vote.
The Borah amendment was discuss
tu ny lCciuthl biiies II W as dil-
derstood, at a conferecne with Sena-
tor Curtis of Kansas, assistant re.
publican leader, and Representative
Mondell of Wyoming, republican lead
Ell in the house. during a visit on
another subject.
Senator Lodge based his opposition
TO the Borah economic conference
proposal on tho ground that 1t was
too broad in terms. He also contend
ed. with reference to the Borah pro-
vision for a conference to secure land
and further naval armament limita.
tion agreements. that it would be "fu-
tle'' in view of the failure on these
subjects at the recent Washington
arms conference and unless 1t was de-
veloped that the European opposition
10 further disarmament voiced at that
toI ,f.e