Evening star., 1922-12-27

Williams Against Isolation.
Senator Williams. of Mississippi
democrat, insisted that the United
States could not isolate itself from
the rest of the world. He predict ed
that the day would come when the
American people would follow the
policies advocated by Woodrow Will
son in the league of nations covenant
Earlier in the day at conference
of republican senators In Senator
Lodges office il was determined to
fight the Borah proposal for an eco
nomic conference. and to attack il
! first along parliamentary lines. A
| point of order will be made that the
amendment is new and general legis-
lation sought to be attached to an
appropriation bill against the rules
| of the Senate. Thirty-two senators
attended this meeting. one-third of
the Senate membership.
Procedure Contemplated.
II the point OF order against the
amendment is sustained by the Vice
President and by the Senate-for 1t is
likely that if the Vice President rules
sustaining the point of order an ap-
peal will be taken from the decision
of the chair-Senator Borah will then
propose to suspend the rules, SO his
amendment shall be in order. which
However. II requires only majority
| vote to overruie the decision of the
chair. and supporters of the Boraf
proposal insist that. under the prece-
dents Of the Senate. the amendment
cannot properly be held to be out OF
order. If the decision of the chair
should be overruled there is little
doubt that the amendment would be
adopted. though perhaps with some
changes.
Senator Lodge in his opening
statement to the Senate referred to
the economic conference proposal as
IAN entirely new subject which was
sought to be placed in the appropria-
tion bill He said this proposal and
that made by the House and by Sena- :
! tor Borah for a further conference on
limitation of armaments Opened
matters of such grave Importance
that / do not feel they should pass
without some comment.
President Has Power.
The republican leader said that un-
der the Constitution of the United
with foreign powers is in the hands
of the President and that it could
not be otherwise. He said that a
legislative body Is necessarily incapa
BILE Of conducting negotiations with
foreign powers.
Senator Lodge said. In which the
President has consulted the Senate in
regard to entering into negotiations
with a foreign country and several
instances In which the Senate has ad-
vised the President in regard to such
negotiations. There is no doubt OF
the right of the President and the
Senate in such matters. he said. but
the final power must lie with the
President, when il comes to enter
ing upon negotiations.
Senator Lodge said that almost any
President would give heed to the ad-
vice of the Senate and for that
careful as to any advice 1t attempted
The Massachusetts senator called
the attention of the Senate to what
was done at the Washington confer
ence on the Limitation of armament
a year ago. He declared that France
at that conference had made ii clear
that the question of land disarma
ment or reduction of armament
would not be considered under exist
ing conditions.
Branded ns Futile.
ut is useless to call n further con-
ference on land armament without
knowing as preliminary step that
France is ready to withdraw her OBJ
teCt1OnS, SdlQ SeHdtOT lDuSCs ~
would be futile"
He continued that 1t would be
equally futile to seek a further con.
ference on the reduction OF naval
armament. dealing with auxiliary
draft and submarines, for the same
reason unless the United States
should have some assurance from
France. Japan. Italy and HOLLAND
that they were ready to discuss such
reductions He insisted that 1t woult
put the United States in an absurd
position and would do no good tt
| issue an invitation without such as
surances.
Turning to the subject of the pro
posed economic conference. as con-
tained in the Borah amendment, Sena-
tor Lodge declared 1t was clearly sub
| ject to a point of order. Any one. III
said. with human sympathies. woult
be anxious to have the United StateI
aid the countries OF Europe In theil
| could. He referred to the recent mas