The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-12-29

frOWns on
Borah Plan

Way to ,pc.
Its D,,> - Predicted
Was. .NS Jec. 2S.-tBy a. P.l-
Senate NSS over the Borah pro.
losal for Z world economic confer
ence reached n dramatic turning point
today when President Harding threw
the full force of the administration
against Senator Borah's plans as con.
tained in an amendment to the naval
appropriations bill and. in a letter
read in the senate, virtually asked for
its defeat
Another days general debate fol
lowed, but action went over. Plans
were made for a vote Friday but so
many senator's desired to speak that.
with forces favoring the Borah rider
reported sparrins for time in an ef.
fort at recruiting delay over the New
Years holiday appeared possible.
Defeat of the amendment was pre-
dicted by administration leaders and
conceded upon the present status of
the battle, by its champions.
Would Hinder Negotiations.
The presidents letter was address
ed to Senator Lodge of Massachusetts.
the republican leader, and said the
l'orah amendment would create false
Impressions abroad as we'll as at
home, to the embarrassment Of what
the administration already was doing
toward aiding Europe. Evidently
drafted with great care after consul
Itation with Secretary Hughes, how
ever, the communication failed to give
any details of the negotiations it hint
ed were in progress.
Neither would White House or
State department officials divulge any
further information on the subject.
They declared the affair was neces.
sarily yelled in diplomacy and left it
shrouded in doubt. Virtually the only
light thrown on the negotiations came
from Senator Lodge during the sen
ate discussion. when he said that can
collation. of the foreign debt was op-
posed by the president and was not
included in the negotiations.
Asks Free Hand.
A suggestion from the president in
his letter that congress free the
hands" of the allied debt commission
so that helpful negotiations may be
undertaken developed special inter-
est in the senate. Senator Lodge said
he was authorized 70 state that the
president meant that time for pay
ment of principal and interest of for
eign debts might be extended.
Senator Borah, however, in brief
comment on the presidents letter,
posed. in effect, to cancel the foreign
debt by deferring payments until the
seventh or eighth generation has pass
ed over the Jordan
In discussions at the State depart
ment rumors of the Administrations
activities continued of wide and varied
form. One was based OH press re-
ports from abroad, suppesting posi-
bilities OF a four power European
peace pact as a means of settlement
of the reparations question, but this
diSO idlltu W tllclI dlly colilIllt1L Ill
official circles. The unofficial report
was that Germany desired the United
States to suggest such a course to
France, Great Britain, Belgium and
Germany to join in the peace agree
ment and possibly Italy.
Rumor Attracts Attention.
While it was impossible to get any
reaction in official quarters on this
phase of the European peace pact
suggestion known to have been con-
sidcred first abroad more than a year
ago. it attracted much unofficial at
tention. A possibility that 1t had
been evolved in Germany as means
of meeting French demands as to
adequate security from attack was
suggested. Since the three power
agreement for defense of France
which would have insured American
and British support against any Ger
man aggression, failed when rejected
in the United States, 1t occurred "a
some observers that the United
States might be selected as the logi-
cal agency for presenting a four
power European peace plan as an
alternative.
Another overflow crowd followed
today's senate debate, in which the
principal speeches were made by
Senators McNary, republican. Ora
gon: France, republican. Maryland:
Heflin, democrat. Alabama, and Cara
way, democrat Arkansas. in support
of the Borah amendment, and by
Senator Mccormick. republican. H.
linois, in opposition. Several lively
tits occurred also between Senators
Borah, Lodge, Johnson, republican.
California; Reed, democrat. Missouri
and others.
Debate Continued.
Senator Borah sought to reply at
length to President Harding's letter.
but deferred an extensive reply until
Friday, when a half dozen senators
are to speak on the amendment.
Administration leaders hoped to
dispose of the Borah and all related
subjects Friday, but the speech max
ing plans made a vote doubtful, al
though possible. II was arranged
that Senator Poindexter. republican.
Washington. in charge of the naval
bill, should make a point of order
against the Borah amendment when
it is offered. but Senator Borah said
he would not formally submit it until
all discussion had ended.
Jeweler Kills Friend.
Manila. Dec. 2S.-(By A. P.)-
Harry Bridge, captain of a China