, 1922-12-27

administration SEN
ators Open Fight
on Proposal for
World Conference

WASHINGTON, Dec. 81.
Administration senators I'M
der the lead of Chairman
Lodge of the foreign relations
committee, began in the SEN
ate today a determined fight
agains; the proposal of Senator Borah.
Republican. Idaho. for a new interna-
tionai conference in Washington 70
discuss economic conditions and dis
armament.
Senator Lodge. who was said by h =
colleagues TO have ascertained the
views OF President Harding and his
administration advisers. opened his
attack as soon as the senate heEan
work IN the Borah proposal. which Is
In the form OF an amendment TO the
annual naval bill requesting the pres
ldent to call an economic and arma.
ment conference.
The foreign relations chairman re
counted the difficulties OF further
armament limitation encountered a
the Washington arms conference a
year & and declared that in view
OF the attitscs taken by other powers
Il would be useless 70 attempt TO
limit and ornaments unless IL were
established beforehand that France
had changed her position.
The fight on the senate floor De-
gar after a score OF administration
senators had conferred in Senator
Lodges offices and trapped out a pro
gram providing for n resort to par
Elementary tactics - necessary TO lie
feat the o BY Senator Borah. Parl
II the senate irreoonciiables who have
rotod with Mr.. Borah on many othar
questions OF foreign policy, also wer.
arrayed against his amendment. Will,
the attitude of the Democratic SIDE o
the chamber seemed to be a wa!tin.
one. with many membsrs undecidet
whether to support or oppose the con
ference pan.
Senator Lodge declared the amend
ment's proposal for nm economic con
ference was I'm entirely new subjsct
foreign to the provision put into The
tili b. the house for a further naval
Limitation conference. and was Of
grave Importance" He reclted thai
the conduct OF foreign affairs was In
the hands OF the president and tina,
he would not be bound to accept any
advice offered ny the senate although
almost n president would give
weight TO senatorial advice.
Reviewing the work OF tho Wash
ington arms conference. the repub
fcan leader recalled that Premier
BRAND had told the conference thai
France could not onsen to any lirni
tatioII OF land armament.
"Of course that put an end to any
further action by the conference on
the question OF land armament" said
senator Lodge. because no action
could be taken except by unanimous
agreement. France may have changed
her attitude within the car but II sc
I have no information TO hat effect
II would be useless to call n confer
enee CT land armament without know
ing that France was ready to with
draw her objection. 1t would be
futile unless it was known thai tn,
other powers were not going to objeci
at the very beg 'nning.'
Turning to the provision in tn,
naval bill as passed by the house, and
In h Borah amenment for a move
to limit the building OF naval vessell
of 10000 tons and less, Senator Lodg,
pointed out that the Washington con
ference was unable to do that be
cause of the objections OF France anS
other powers
The American delegation presented
a complete plan for limitation for al
auxiliary types, he said. but NJ. Briart
notified Secretary Hughes that 4
would be impossible for France t,
accept a reduction OF such craft IL
view OF the sentiment OF her peopi,
and of her Legislators.
Great Britain then proposed aboll
ton OF the use CT submarines. he con
tinued, but to this all OF the otbe,
powers ojected and the only thing tn,
United States could do was to brtn,
about a limitation IF the caIibre o
guns on craft below i 5000 tons.
The Massachusetts senator pointe,
out that France n Italy alone o
the powers participating in the arms
conference had -a:Ied to ratify tn,
resulting treaties, and added:
Il hope. and l believe. however
Continued on Page Seven)