Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-12-28
To Claim 1t Long Step To.
ward Entrance Of
League
LODGE IN ACTION
Visits President Who is Said 10 Have
Letter Outlining Opposition to
Idahoan's Proiect--Counting Votes
to be Had.
Try United FreSs)

Washington, Dec. 2S-President
Harding today announced his oppo-
sition to the passage by the senate of
the Borah resolution, requesting the
president to call an information eco
nomic conference. The president de-
clared that the passage of the Borah
resolution was undesirable because
of the false impressions which may
be conveyed to Europe and even more
undesirable because of the wrong I'M
preston it conveys to our own peo-
pie"
Mr. Harding's position was revealed
in a letter TO Senator Lodge, admins
tration leader in the senate, which
Lodge had read to the senate when
it met today.
1t would be futile to call such a
conference until the President had
learned such conference would be
welcomed by other nations, Mr.. Hard
ing said. II congress desires to be
helpful in the present situation, he
said, it should modify the laws which
prevent American Representation on
the reparation commission and prohi-
bit the American debt refunding
commission from granting more Ii
beral terms to the debtor nations. A
settlement of the reparatIons question
the president said must underlie any
economic rehabilitation Of Europe and
he declared emphatically that the
United States should never say TO
one nation what il shos'd pay nH 10
another what should expect.
Washington, Dec. Ex-senator Hi
ram Johnson, new leader OF senate
irreconcilables, was to swing into ac-
tion today against Senator Borah's
proposal for an American invitation to
the world to bring its economic trou-
bles here for settlement.
Johnson. in a speech to The senate
was expected to brand the Borah plan
rs q long step in the direction OF AM
erican membership in the league OF
nations, of if not that, Of permanent
ENHANCEMENT in the political affairs
Of Europe.
Senator Lodge. Republican senate
leader. was hurriedly summoned 10
the White House for another confer
ence with President Harding on the
Borah proposal Indications were
that the President had prepared a
letter outlining his opposition to the
plan. which he desired to read to
Lodge before sending it to the senate.
With Lodge stating that the president
is now negotiating for some sort OF
international gathering 10 relieve the
critical European situation, Mr.. Hard
ing to defeat the Borah plan, may
be forced to throw some light on the
procedure he has under contempia-
tion.
With johnson scheduled to speak
in opposition and Senator McNary,
Oregon. in favor of the Borah amend
ment. administration leaders were
carefully counting the votes they can
muster if a fight came over the point
of order they will raise against Borah.
Senator PolndeXter, IN charge Oh tHe
naval bill, will raise this point, pos
sibly today, claiming that Borah's
amendment proposing the economic
and disarmament conference is out of
order. Though numerous precedents
have opened the way for a decision
by Vice President Coolidge that the
ay,,a,,drooy+ is in order the belief nre-
walls generally among senator's that
ne will sustain the Poindexter posi-
tion, and rule Borah out. Brah or
some supporter of his clan will then
appeal for the decision, and on such an
appeal the first test of strength on
the Borah plan will probably be had.
a majority of the senate can overrule
decision of the presiding officers. If,
therefore, Borah can muster this bare
majority, he not only can steer mis-