The Topeka state journal., 1922-12-27
Relationships With Europe Are
Opened Up for Debate.
AMENDMENT TO NAVAL BILL
Quarrel Is Expected to Bring
Out Views of Harding.
Lodge Leads Fight for the Ad-
ministratiOn Group.


lations committee, began in the senate
today a determined fight against the
proposal of Senator Borah. Republi-
can, Idaho. for a new international
conference in Washington to discuss
economic conditions and disarmament
Senator Lodge. who was said by his
colleagues to have ascertained the
views of President Harding and his
administration advisers. opened his at
tack as soon as the senate began work
on the Borah proposal. The foreign
relations chairman recounted the dlt-
ficulties of further armament hmlta-
tion countered at the Washington
arms conference n year ago. and de
clared that in view of the attitude
taken by other powers II would be
useless to atte mpt to limit land arm
aments unless 1t were established De
forehaud that France had changed
her position
The fight on the senate floor began
after a score of administration sena-
tors had conferred an Senator Lodges
offices and mapped out a program
providing for a resort to parma
mentary tactics If necessary TO de1eal
the move by Borah- a part OF me
senate irrecCncilable groups Wnlch
have voted with Mr.. Borah on many
other questions of foreign policy also /
was arrayed against his amendment
while the attitude of the Democratic
side of the chamber seemed to be
waiting one. with many memb bers uh-
decided whether to support or oppose
the conference plan.
In Hands of President.
Senator Lodge declared the amend
rneutrs proposal for an economic con- I
ference was an entirely new sub1ect. 1
foreign to the provision put -nto the
biIl by the house for \ further naval 4
limitation conference and was OF
Grave Importance" He recited that /
the conduct Of foreign affairs was IN I
the hand OF the president and he
would not be bound to accept any \
advice offered by the senate altho as
almost any president would give /
weight TO senatorial advice Review
ing the work of the Washington arms
conference the Republican leader re-
called Premier BRAND had told the
conference that France could not con-
sent to any limitation of land arnla-
ment-
"Of course that put an end to any
further action by the conference on
the question of land armament" said
Lodge, sheCause no action could be
taken except by unanimous agree
ment-"
Questions France Stand.
France may have changed her at
titude within the year but if so I have
no information to that effect 1t will
be useless to call a conference of land
armament without knowing that
France is ready TO withdraw her OBJ
lection. II would be futile unless It
was known that the other powers were
not going TO object at the very begin
ming.
Turning to the provision in the ma
val bill a passed by the house, and in
the Borah amendment for a move to
limit the building of naval vessels OF
10000 tons and less. Senator Lodge
pointed out that the Washington con-
ference. was unable to do that because
Of the objections OF France and other
powers. The American delegation
presented a complete plan for limita-
al d
but NJ BRAND notified Secretary
Hughes that it will berimpOssible for
France to accept a reduction of such
craft in view of the sentiment of her
people and of her legislators.
Favors More Light Craft.
Great Britain then proposed aboli-
tion OF the use of submarines, he con-
tinued. but TO this all of the other
powers objected. and the only thing
the United States could do was to
bring about a Limitation of the Caliber
OF guns on craft below 10000 tons
Senator Lodge said he was informed
OF the competition among other pow
ers in small naval craft. submarines
and aircraft. permissible under the
washington treaty and he urged that !
the United States should build more
light armored cruisers, airpiane car
riers and aircraft.
Senator Williams, Democrat. Mis-
sissippi. agreed with Lodge that the
United States has not demanded or
received anything as the result of the j
world war but said he wanted the |
senate to remembers that President !
VVffsou-uoW A soldier suffering from ,
the wounds of Roattle'-first enunci- /
ated that principle at the council table ,
in Paris. II
After a week fof conference admin :
istration leaders indicate that they
could not support the proposal in its
original form. and negotiations were
for notifications to make
il acceptable. Meantime a definite ,
ha ar7tr
Of the senate irreconcilable group, of
which Senator Borah has been a
leader since the league of nations T
fight. senator johnson. Republican, a
California. and others taking the posi- i
ton that a conference like that pro- 7
posed would embroil the United states q
aonelessly in European politics J
Harding to Take Part.
In some quarters it was expected G
hat the views of President Harding i
would be made known in 4 decisive :
way before the debate had proceeded =
rery far Bot Mr.. Harding and Sec :
etary Hughes have been consulted :
bout the Borah proposal and many !,
senate members were looking to :
Chairman Lodge OF the foreign rela-
ions committee and Senator watson. u
u Indiana another of the administra- a
ion deaders. to disclose fully the at S
itude of the executive branch of the II
Government toward the possibility of F
new international conference on c
American soil Z
Before the senate met, a dozen ad-
senator's held a long con- Z
erence at which it was understood the h