Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-12-30
HARDING REQUESTS
SENATE To DEFEAT
BORAH RESOLUTION
President, in Letter to Lodge.
Says He Is Now in Negoti-
alton With Europe in Effort
ITO Be Helpful"

WASHINGTON, Dec. 29.-Presi-
dent Harding informed the senate
Thursday that action by it on Sena-
tor Borah's plan for an economic and
disarmament conference was not adj
visable in view of what the execu
tive branch of the government al
ready is doing to be helpful"
Just what the steps already taken
or in contemplation by the admins
tration may be, however, the presi-
dent did not reveal. He said mem
bers of congress could learn if they
inquired in the proper way, but that
state department communications
on so delicate a subject obviously
could not be bulletined from day to
day"
If congress really wants to help,
he added, ''it might we'll free the
hands" of the debt refunding com.
mission which, under the act Great
ing it, cannot alter the interest
terms or date of payment of the
war debts.
The PREPARATIONS question. Mr..
Harding said, was at the heart Of
the European economic situation.
but he added that the United States
could not dictate the terms Of repa'
rations settlement and that it would
be futile to call a reparations con-
ference until it had been ascertain
ed beforehand that basis of agree.
ment could be reached.
Sends Letter to Lodge
The views of the president were
set forth in letter to Chairman
Lodge, of the foreign relations com.
mittee, sent to the capitol to be pre-.
scented at the opening Of the second
day of debate on the Borah proposal,
which is embodied in an amendment
to the annual naval bill. The amend.
ment also calls on the president to
call another arms limitation con.
ference, but this suggestion Mr. Har
ding also rejected as useless in view
Of the position taken by some Of
the powers at the Washington con-
ference year go.
Senator Lodge presented the presi.
dent letter immed ately after the
senate convened, and the reading of
it by a clerk was listened to atten-
lively by senators on both sides of
the chamber.
Senator Borah noted on a pad of
paper the high spots of the commu-
nication, and smiled broadly at the
presidents declaration that the pro-
posed amendment would in effect
give the impression that the eXecu-
tive branch Of the government was
not fully alive" to the present world
situation, and that congress could
facilitate the work of the debt COM
mission Shy freeing the hands, of
that body.
Senator McNary, Republican, Ore
gon, gained the floor after the let
ter had been read, and began an
address in behalf of the Borah pro-
posal, which he championed as a
measure likely to aid the American
farmer by restoring Europe and in
creasing European purchases of
American agricultural products.
An active member Of the senate
farm bloc, Senator McNary declared
his opposition to an American policy
of "isoiation," although he said he
knew his views would rouse what
he termed the international states
men bloc of the senate"
No Cancellation of Debts
at shall never know" said Sen
ator McNary, whether it was the
stubborness Of our distinguished
president, Woodrow Wilson, the per.
versity of the able senator from
Massachusetts, Mr.. Lodge, or tn =:
eloquence Of the irreconcilables that
prevented ratification Of the. Yer
sailles treaty, yet I shall always
think, as a mild reservationist, that
much of the unrest and hatred ex'
listing among the nations at this
| time would not have occurred if this
treaty containing the covenant Of
| the League of Nations with the
Lodge reservations, had been rati-
fed"
Senator. McNary said the Borah
amendment would not obligate Amer
:ca to any aggressive or defensive
military action nor precipitate the
nation in any political maelstrom.
1t would be a step, he said, to re
establishment Of European trade He
suggested that German Preparations
should be reduced. and that increased
trade with Europe was needed more
| by American farmers than the pend
-na farm credits legislation.
Senator Lodge later told the sen
ate that he could not state explicit
ly" the nature Of the administrator
re gotiations for conference, but
was authorized to say they did not
include cancellation of the allied debt
He said President Harding told him
the administration was opposed tC
cancellation, but inclined to favor
longer amortization and interest pay
ments.