The Washington herald., 1922-12-28

me that Ms a question which
should be excluded.
think the debt due to the
United States should be consid-
cred by and dealt with by the
United States alone.
Under the conference Of course
we should be called upon to take
part in the Reparations Com
mission. We are seeking no
reparations but we should be
called upon to take part in 1t
and enter to that extent into a
revision perhaps Of the Treaty
Of Versailles. I think whatever
we feel about that, we should
determine and make clear in our
legislation just what our opln-
ion is.
STATEMENT OF ATTITUDE.
Such a conference would un-
doubtedly have the power to con.
slider advancing large sums Of
new money to help Germany or
to help France. I do not krow
how far the Senate thinks it
should commit itself to that
policy of advancing money from
the Treasury for the re-estab-
lishment Of the finances of Ger.
many or France, but it seems to
me that II we are to do 1t: II
we are to enter into a conference
where that question would surely
arise. there ought to be some dis
tinct statement as to our attitude
in regard to It.
II we are to enter upon the
business Of restoring stability in
Europe, Of course we shall be
called upon not only to help
France. Italy and Germany. but
the Austrian states Of the former
empire, the Balkans, Asia Minor,
and I suppose Russia.
OF course there are many other
questions that might be brought
up in the conference upon which
I hope, before the debate ends
and before final action Is taken.
the Senate will express its opin-
ion. The question Of immigration
could not in my opinion be kept
out. l for one should not be
willing to have that question go
before the conference at all.
i do not suppose that the con-
ference would take UP any purely
PoilllNdl quCbliOflbp UuI WHch any
thing is as large and broad as
this no one can tell where it will
end.
A GRAVE STEP.
All / am asking is that the
Senate shall consider the mat
ter with the utmost care before
the amendment is agreed to. We
q L{p~ -
President. who Ii charged with
the conduct Of our foreign rela-
tions. to take a very grave step.
We do not know what he has
done in these various directions.
We do know that he 10 ~ de-
sirous as anybody possibly can
be to improve economic condi-
tions in Europe and to aid those
countries toward greater bust.
ness stability.
But what steps he may have
taken we do not know. It will
be no ones wish, I am sure. to
embarrass him in the negotia-
tions or the efforts which he is
now making.
Ny own belief 10 as a general
proposition that the United States
can be OF greater service to hu-
manity and to its fellow nations
In Europe and elsewhere by hold
ing itself free from obligations
which would bind it to action
which 1t might not be willing to
take when the hour for action
came. The United States without
treaty obligations Of any kind rem.
defed a very great service to the
world. We asked nothing. We
received nothing. We took not
one inch Of land. nor have we
sought a dollar Of reparation. I
am very proud to think that that
is the record Of my country.
NO REFLECTION CAST.
I have not q word of reflection
upon the other countries who suf-
fered and sacrificed SO much in
the war, but they have already
received large and important ad-
vantases from the conclusion Of
the war. do not grudge
them anything they have re-
ceived. I do not question the
justice of it. But they have all
received something of very great
Importance immense territories
in Africa, territories in Asia
Minor. They have rid themselves
for some years Of the competi.
ton Of the German merchant
marine.
But we have asked nothing. we
want nothing, we have taken
nothing, and we do not propose
to- do think that that fact
leaves 1t to US to determine II
give, when we shall give and
where We shall give, and not have
1t settled for US by other nations.