The Washington herald., 1922-12-28
Farley Might Bind Nation to
Action II Would Not Care
to Take, Says Senate Leader
URGES U. S. TO HOLD AL00F
Declares No Good Can Come
Now from Attempt at Set
ling Difficulties Of Europe
BY Universal Service.

Senator Lodge, the majority
leader and chairman of the For
eign Relations Committee, outlined
in an hours speech in the Senate
yesterday the Administration's op
position to the Borah propose
that this country call an tnterna
tional conference to consider tn
economic problems of Europe. HI
said IN part:
When the United States invites
other nations to meet here in a
conference 1t assumes a serious
responsibility. We have the same
right that every other nation rep
resented has to put our veto on
any proposition which may be
made. but 1t is not a little diff
cult for us to do so when we are
in the attitude of a host. There
fore. it is of utmost Importance
when we urge the President to
invite other powers to a confer
ence that we make very explicit
exactly what that conference is
expected to do.
BLOCKED BY FRENCH.
The first proposition suggested
by the House provision and by
the amendment Of the Senator
from Idaho relates to disarma-
ment; that is. to expanding limita-
tions to surface and to the
auxiliary class of the navy gen.
orally. 1t is now barely a year
since the President called a con-
ference here for the purpose Of
considering the question Of the
reduction Of armament. 1t was
not confined to the limitation of
naval ornaments alone; 1t COW
eyed also land ornaments, as does
the proposed amendment of the
Senator from Idaho
Let me deal with the question
or land armaments first. 1t was
the first subject dealt with by
the conference. NJ BRAND. the
prime minister of France at the
time, stated the position of
France-that they could not con-
sent to any limitation of land
armament in the present condi-
tion of affairs in Europe. That.
of course, put an end to any
further action by the conference
on the question of land arna-
ment. The refusal Of France had
the sympathy of Japan.
FALL PLAN PRESENTED.
France may have: changed her
attitude in that respect within
the year. but II she has I have
haI ayNf
1t will be useless to call a con-
ference for the limitation of land
armaments without knowing as
preliminary step that France was
ready to withdraw her objection
and ready to consider with the
other powers the limitation of her
land forces. 1t would be futile
to call a conference for the re-
duction of land armaments unless
II was known that those powers
that were summoned were not 60
ing to object at the very begin
ming to any consideration of that
point.
Now, as to surface and sub
surface boats and the other aux
iliary craft which both the House
and Senator from Idaho desire to
have considered, the American
delegation presented a complete
plan to the conference for the
Limitation Of all these craft.
Great Britain proposed that the
conference should agree to the
complete suppression of sub
marines, to their abolition. To
that, 1 think, all the members
of the conference objected, and it
proceeded no further. Tho
United States then made a
proposition for the limitation Of
submarines. France declined, and
so. as I remember. did Japan, al
though after one declination no
more was needed; and Holland,
one OF the smaller powers, made
strong objection to any limitation
Of submarine tonnage.
1t is not necessary to go into
the reasons of the different
powers. but the objection was
an absolute one. and that made
il impossible for the conference
to effect anv limitation Of the
submarines or the auxiliary craft
except the general limitations
put on the caliber of guns on
vessels OF less than 10000 tons.
We have received no informa-
ton. so far as 1 am aware. from
France. from Holland, from Jap
an or from Italy, that they are
ready to meet US in conference
and place limitations upon sub
marines and auxiliary craft. As
in the case of land armament,
1t would be perfectly idle to
take the great responsibility. Of
calling a conference to consider
limitations which were rejected
only a year ago. unless we had
assurance from the powers invit-
ed that they were ready to con-
slider the question of limitations
for surface and subsurface and
for auxiliary craft generally.
NOTHING TO GAIN.
1t might not do any harm. ex.
cept to put us in rather an absurd
position in asking for a confer.
ence to consider limitations of
armament which we knew before
hand would be refused, but 1t cer-
tainly could do no good. Before
having an effective conference
for the further limitation of arma-
ments, it seems to me there is
nothing to be gained until we are
informed and until Congress is in
formed by those charged with our
foreign relations that the time
has come when we can have a
conference which will be effec-