Evening star., 1922-12-28
Fears Effect ON
His Efforts to
"Be Helpful"
CHIDES SENATOR
ON IMPETUOSITY
Saws Administration
Has Matter Under
Consideration.

President Harding declared unequivo-
cally today his opposition to the adop-
ton by Congress of the Borah amend
ment to the Navy bill for an interna-
tional economic conference.
The President made his position
clear in letter to Senator Lodge, re-
publican leader and chairman of the
foreign relations committee. which
was read to the Senate Immediately
after that body convened. 1t was
transmitted in reply to an inquiry by
Senator Lodge regarding the Borah
amendment.
In his opinion, the President stated,
the adoption Of the Borah amendment
would be undesirable because it would
create a false impression abroad and
at home.
In his letter he proceeded to
spank" Senator Borah verbally be-
cause he had offered the amendment
without first seeking information as
TO what the administration was at
tempting to do to help solve the
economic troubles Of the world.
Should Have Inquired.
The President said "the European
situation has been given the most
thorough and thoughtful considera-
tion for many months" He said that
inquiry at the State Department
would have revealed the futility of any
conference call until it is understood
that such a conference would be well
coined by the nations concerned, with
In the limits of discussion which the
expressed will of Congress compels
this government to impose"
If Congress is really desirous of IA
cilitating the tasks of the government
in dealing with the European situa-
rion. the first practical step would be
10 free the hands of the world war
debt funding commission SO haSbelp-
full negotiations may be undertaken,
the President said.
The President denied emphatically
that the United States has been rep
resented on the reparations commls-
sion.
Against Debt Cancellation.
In connection with the Presidents
suggestion that Congress free the
hands of the debt funding commits
sion. Senator Lodge told the Senate
he was authorized to say the admin
istration was opposed to the cancel
lation of the debts.
The Presidents letter, Senator
Lodge said, was to be construed as
asking the Congress to amend the
existing act to give broader latitude
as to interest and terms of time, but
did not intimate any possibility of
cancellation.
The President also warned the Sem
ate against the passage in the Navy
bill of proposal for a call for a
further limitation of arms conference
until the other nations have indicated
their willingness to discuss and ac-
ceed to such limitations.
The administration forces in the Sem
ate today were confident that the Borah
amendment would not be added to the
Navy appropriation bill. The Presi-
dents letter was considered to have
added great strength to the opposition.
The assertion is made that the Rorah
amendment would go out on a point of
order that it was general legislation. on
an appropriation bill.
Senator Lodge later told the Senate
that he could not state explicitly the
rions for conference. but was author
ized to say they did not include cancel
lation of the allied debt.
Bornh Qulzxes Lodge.
Senator Borah. discussing the Presi-
dents letter briefly, asked for infor-
nation regarding the administration
negotiations.
II am not in position to say pre-
cise1y what they include" Senator
Lodge replied. But ] can say what.
they do not include. They do not in
clude cancellation of The foreign
debt. asked that question CT the
President. He said: Why, this sd-
ministration has been steadily against
cancellation of the debt and is now
of greater latitude for the debt COM
mission related to the time of amor
tizat tion of the debt and the collection
of interest"
Senator Borah submitted his request
for greater light on the Presidents
request that the commissions hands
he freed. and Senator Lodge reiter-
ated that the Presidents allusfon re-
ferred only to interest and amortfza-
tion. Senator Lodge said he favored
The twenty-five years now provided
by statute, but repeated that he was
vigorously opposed to cancellation
"The President says that the State
Department has contended that the
reparations questions and the foreign
debt should be considered separately,
but the foreign governments con-
tend otherwise" Senator, Borah OBJ
served
McNary Backs B0Fah.
The reading of the Presidents let
ter was followed by an address by
senator McNary Of Oregon. strongly
supporting the adoption of the Borah
amendment.
II know Of no provision of the Con-
stitution that would permit the dele
gates at u conference of this charac-
fer," said Senator McNary, ito obli-
gate our country in respect to q re-
auction or cancellation Of the allied
debt, or to consider any other subject
concerning our relations with foreign
powers that are properly the subject
of negotiation by the President. upon
ratification or rejection by the Senate.
II am not disturbed, nor made to
tremble by the rumblings of the iso-
Jationists that at an economic con-
ference the traditional policies of
our country would be overthrown. or
disregarded, nor am I persuaded by
the argument that the best policy for
This country to pursue Is to leave the
nations Of Europe alone until they