The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-12-27
Why Bofah's.
Proposal Is
Being Opposed.
tIT DAVID hAvRErCED
CcprrtSht By Tns rntallis erosr.

Washington. liec. 2S,-Opposition -
Senator Borahs proposal tor an inter.
national economic conference is not
aimed at the principle Of a conference
10 restore economic ncrmalcv IN Eu-
rope and the world generally but at
the ameliness of the measure.
Administration senators who are
lining up asainsE the Borah resolu
ttcn. which would authorize the Presl
dent to summon an International econ
omic conference. have been privately
told that ths executive branch Of the
government ALREADY has been discuss
Ing the project with other powers. and
that action by the senate at this time
might be construed as committing the
United States government TO a course
Of action which It might otherwise be
free to avoid.
Curiously enough Mr. Borahs pro
posa] and the circumstances which
surround It are almost Identical with
the situation which existed befors MIR
Harding called the conference On
Pacific problems and reduction OF
armament. The President was In ne
Ectiation With other governments
when Mr.. Borah's resolution was pro-
tsctsd. and II looked 70 the outside
world as If the Idaho senator had
driven the President into the course
he finally took. The record 81 the de-
pa-tment os state will show that the
subject was being discussed IN diplo
matte channels long before It was
Aentioned in the senate,
Mn Harding Not Averse.
Mr.. Harding is not averes 10 the
ference. He would gladly have Amer
lea participate 10 one. but he hasn't
made up his mind that it would be a
good thing for America or the world
for him 10 take the initiative. Upon
the country's calling any lnterra'
tional conferences rests the respcnsi-
bility for the program. When the arm.
amen. conference. met In Washington.
Secretary Hughes laid before the as.
hled nations a. the outset the sac.
riflcss America was willing 10 make.
Such IN action might Seem TO be I'M
posed again in an International ecoo'
orLc conference eut the Harding al.
mlnistration had NJ such program 70
offer II seems that the EuropeH
nations haze problems which thai
must offer 70 solve. and which depend
absolutely on the political relations
ct France, Germany. belgium. Italy
and Great Britain. The nearest thing
toe suggestion Of solutton tor thar
phase of the matter which the United
Srases has made was contained IN
President Hardins's last address -"
congress wherein he proposed thai
the four power idea be applied to
other areas ~ the world.
Would Limit Land Armament
The belief for the moment at an"
rate Is that an economic conference
would be futile. unless II Is preceded
b. a conference OF premiers or am.
bassadors empowered 10 clear up the
political relations Of Europe. Until
such an atmosphere prevails the eicS:
ertnEs over the economic problems
would probably set no further thar
they have heretofore.
The United States would be glad TO
attend conference TO stabilize the
political relations Of European and
American nations. through an agres
ment 10 limit land arma ment II would
20 somewhat against the grain TO rush
headlcng into political conferen's .
which would merely arrange anothst
balance CT power. But the question
os land armament Is not merely a
European matter It's expense Is IN
directly affecting the prices Of Amert
can farm products. II Eurores cur.
rency was higher the purchasing
power CT the European people would
be greater and the export trade OF
America would be tmprored-thsts )
admitted berond question In official
quarters here. If land armament we're
reduced. Eurcpeon budgets would be
balanced and the currencies Of all na.
tions would Corresrcndingly increase
IN value.
eeina Discussed.
So on the broad ground Of reducing
land armament. conference on At
lsntic probe ms-to limit construction
OF airplanes aud suhmarlnes-and at
IQe same llUS idhI oi III
which wasn't treated at the Washing
ton parley year age Is being dis
cusssd b. the powers. America wants
such conference held IN Europe
where European problems can be bet.
Ter discussed and where American
dIs,ntersstedness can come into rull
plsv II Is hoped here the conference
will te called for London or Brussels
or the Hague and conversely " IS
hoped that the conference will not he
called for either Far1s or Berlin,
where the atmosphere ts not as PRO
ductive ct reconciliation as y might
be elsewhere
An Amerlcan delegation consisting
cf Republicans and Democrats would
probably be selected by President
Harding. Because Of tho combined
political and economic problems In
volved. Secretary OF State Hughes,
Secretary of tbs Treasury. Mellon and
Secretary OF Commerce Hoover are
being talked Of for at least thres