Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1922-11-16

UNITED STATES MAY JOIN THE
LEAGUE OF NATIONS UNLESS
SUBSTITUTE is OFFERED.
ADMINISTRATION SO THINKS
President Harding and Cabinet Con-
sidering Proposing Economic Meet
and Conference on European Arma-
ment and Atlantic Questions.
BY JAMES p. HoRNApAY

( BY JAMES p. HORNADAY
Washlngton.-Th Harding admins
/ tration is now fairly well convinced
that the people Of the United States
are looking with more favor on the
| League of Nations than at any time
since the senate refused TO ratify the
Versailles treaty. Furthermore the
administration has about reached the
conclusion that unless 1t can propose
a substitute for the league which VIII
be acceptable to the people, the United
States Is very apt to so into the exist
ing league. The Presidents cabinet,
it can be asserted authoritatively, Is
now unanimously of the opinion that
the United States cannot pursue a pol
ley of isolation. President Harding
has never advocated such policy. On
the other hand, he has, since the day
he was nominated for President, ad-
vocated the adoption of a substitute
for the League of Nations.
The administration now has under
consideration tentative course Of ac-
ton. The proposals are:
% An international economic con
ference called by the United States to
follow the European economic confer
ence which has been called to meet in
Brussels on December l.
(2) A conference on Limitation Of
ornaments in Europe and on Atlantic
questions.
The situation with respect to the
tna. al 81,
conference on the limitation OF arma-
ments and on Pacific and Far Eastern
questions Is influencing the admins
tration to give serious consideration to
these two proposals. Almost year
has gone by since the Washington CON
ference met, and not one Of the treaties
agreed on in that conference has been
ratified by all the nations parties to it.
This means that not one Of the treaties
produced by the conference is IN force
today.
What the Proposals Mean.
The two steps that have been pro-
posed, ii taken, it is said in admins
tration quarters, would presumably
bring about immediate ratification of
all the Washington conference treaties.
The first step proposed Is not regard
ed as Of far-reaching Importance though
the feeling is undoubtedly growing in
the United States-as was indicated
sby the action Of the bankers Of the
country in session Mt New YOrll-that
the government must assist, IN a more
direct way than it has thus Tar assist
ed, in restoring economic ana financial
conditions in Europe. The inside talk
here is that il the United States should
decide to issue IA call for an interna-
tional economic conference, this gov
eminent would express the hope that
the conference be held In this country,
but the place of meeting would Of
course, be left to the countries in
vited TO participate,
The second proposal under consid-
Grafton is for another international
conference on the limitation Of arna-
ments and for the discussion of other
questions which would be patterned
after the Washington conference on
the limitation Of ornaments. Behind
this second proposal is a plan for a
treaty similar to the four-power treaty
which came out of the Washington
conference, and to which the United
States, Great Britain, Japan, and
France are parties, and which is still
unratifed.
Might Bring Fiye-Power Treaty.
The preliminary talk in connection
with the proposed second conference
on the limitation is that it might pro-
duce five-power treaty to which the
United States, Great Britain, France,
Germany and Italy would be parties.
If such a conference should be held,
and If such a treaty should be actual
ly proposed in the conference, several
other European nations, it is pointed
out, might be asked to become parties
to the treaty But the present thought
here is that it should be a five-power
treaty.
The argument in support of this pro-
gram is: az That it would insure the
ratification and application of the four
power treaty adopted at the Washing
ton conference, and (2) would, if car
ried forward in good faith, insure
peace in Europe for long period of
years. Public men who have been con
suited about this tentative program
are very confident that if the United
States, Great Britain, France, Ger.
many and Italy should bind them.
selves together in what might be called
a minor League of Nations to pre-.
serve the peace of Europe, they would
exercise a powerful and probably last
ing influence for good.
The experience of the State depart
ment during the last two weeks in
connection with the fareup in the
Near East has served TO convince mem
bers Of the administration, if they
needed any convincing, that the United
States cannot afford TO attempt to play
lone hand in the game Of interna
tional affairs.
There are only 30 stars known to be