The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-04-01

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all powers to which the nation is
entitled.
The department of state feels
mat the present system of unoffi-
clal observers is out of the uues-
ton, and that it is of doubtful Ie-
galIty and that America is serious
ly restricted by such a method of
conducting her legitimate business
abroad. AS for any fear that the
American member may involve the
United States in foreign commit
ments which would be entangling,
the answer is made that an Amerf-
can On the PREPARATIONS commission
would be subject to the same linn
itations of the American constitu-
ton as any officer or diplomat of
the executive branch of the United
states government. He could not
bind the United States government
without the express consent of the
president, who in turn is limited
by the constitution as to how far
he can go in committing the Amer
lean government to a course of ac-
ton.
some seek Restraint.
1t is unlikely, however, that many
members of congress who feel
deeply on the subject OF non-in-
volvement in European affairs will
be satisfied until a specific restraint
upon the authority of the American
member of the reparations commits
SION is written into the statutes. In
actual practice this limitation will
mean very little and probably will
not be seriously opposed by the ex-
ecutiVe. This is because a man like
r. W. Boyden, unofficial observer
at the reparations commission
meetings is too discreet to do any
thing beyond the instructions of
the department of state. Nor is the
president or secretary Of state like
ly to ever appoint a man who will
take any radical step or agree to
anything vital without consulting
the Washington government.
The whole trouble at present is
that Americas unofficial observer
must listen and watch and say
nothing. He may have been ap-
prised of the Washington govern
ment's policy and be fully equipped
.
but technically he is absent from
the meeting-he is admitted only
by courtesy. 1t is to change that
status and enable the American
representative to speak out with
the full influence of the United
States government that the move
ment for official participation has
arisen.
Lodge to Make Move.
Senator Lodge, chairman of the
senate foreign relations commit
tee, and Representative Porter of
Pennsylvania, chairman of the
house foreign affairs committee,
are expected soon to introduce the
necessary resolution authorizing
the president to appoint an Ameri-
can representative on the repara-
tons commission.
1t was thought for a time that
the initiative rested with the ex-
ecutive and that all he needed to
do was to nominate a man and
congress would confirm the nom
nation. But the reservation to the
Berlin separate treaty ratified by
the senate specifically said that no
appointment was to be made with
out the consent of congress. This
means the advance approval Of both
senate and house by an enabling
law first and a nomination there
after in the regular way. 1t is con-
sidered certain that R. W. Boyden,
who was the first appointed unoffi-
cial observer under the Wilson ad-
ministration, will be continued as
official representative on the com
mission, as he is thoroughly famil-
lar with what has gone before and
has followed the instructions of
President Harding and Secretary
Hughes with minute care.