The New York herald., 1922-01-20
LEADERS DISAGREE
ON GOING TO GENOA
Continued from First Page.

with some favor the Italian invitation
if they were convinced that such an
act would not destroy the effect of the
international undertakings at Wash
ington and encourage opposition to
these instruments in the American
Senate.
Report Coming From Harvey.
What is described as healthy diff
florence of opinion" among the Ameri-
can officials. including those in Presi-
dent Hardings Cabinet, over the
Genoa project is clearly apparent. AM
bassador Harvey will have in the mean
time made a comprehensive report COW
ering his observations. analysis and
conclusions regarding the causes and
circumstances which influenced the
Cannes conference to favor the Genoa
project. The President and his ad-
visers are fully assured that Ambassa-
dor Harvey will send n most illumi-
mating analysis of the European stu
alton, IL he has not already done so.
In any event his report will go a long
way toward debating the decision Of
this Government regarding the Ital-
ian invitation to send representatives
| to the economic function at the birth
place of Columbus.
President Harding has repeatedly
voiced his approval of the conference
| idea in solving International problems
and providing correctives for the dis
astrous consequences of the war with
! Germany. The members of his Cabi-
net appear to have positive opinions
as to the wisdom of our participation
| in the Genoa event. and they are not
| fully in accord regarding the policy
| they believe should be followed.
| Upon two or three points, however.
| they appear to be in full agreement.
One Is that this country should adj
here to its decision not to become di-
rectly involved in the disputes over
German reparations in which it has
no share. The second is that they
have set their face against taking
part in any international gathering
that comes within the scope Of League
OF Nations ventures.
| Seek Evidence or Good Faith.
| Another generally approved policy
| is to insist that the European Gov
ernments give evidence of their good
faith by removing the basic causes for
continued economic Generalization
the cutting down of their extensive
armies; the separation by clearly de-
| fined lines of demarcation between
political and economic projects; sub
lut ffaI hot
is fit to participate in a council of
orderly, humane and civilized govern
ments.
Some of the leading American off,
cials contend that it would be hope
less for us TO attempt to cooperate
with our European friends until the
staggering burden of land armaments
IS removed and the affairs of most of
the continental countries are placed on
a business basis. They say il Russia
will reduce it's Red armies to legiti-
mate defensive proportion. and the
French will follow suit. the chief OBJ
stacles to return OF normal economic
conditions will be removed. With these
problems solved, the same officials ex-
press the opinion that there would
be much less objection than now exists
on the part of the American people to
participation in any genuine economic
undertaking.
Another objection presented by ofT-
cials who believe the United States
should hold aloof from the Genoa
conference is that existing European
animosities would make It impossible
to squarely approach any economic
problems. BY this they mean that
France certainly would attempt to in
volve the United States in her plans
for Tightening the screws on Germany,
and that Germany would attempt to
involve this Government in her gyra-
tions of evasion.
Perhaps the strongest argument ad-
vanced by the officials who favor the
isolation of this Government Is their
sincere belief that public sentiment
and a majority of the members of the
Senate would hail the acceptance of
the Italian invitation as a departure
from the Administrations policy of
ignoring the League of Nations.
To Keep Clear of the League.
The President and Secretary Hughes
have consistently declared they would
not countenance any move that might
reflect such change of front. That
both are still of the same mind has
been revealed by a reflex of their per-
sonal views within the last two or
three days.
| The State Department will not even
acknowledge that 1t has made an ef-
fort to inform itself regarding the de-
| liberations OF the international court
of justice which is soon to assemble
at The Hague. although John Bassett
Moore. an American citizen. Is a mem
Der Of II. The renunciation OF the
state Department Is important as in
dicating the determination of this
Government to refrain from participa-
tion In any international gathering, nc
matter how remote connection II
might appear to have with the League
OF Nations.
Tho United States is presumably in
| fuenced in the decision to take its
time to consider the italian invita-
tion by the knowledge that every
European Government attaches the
greatest importance to It's participa-
tion, and that every plan contemplate
ing the economic rehabilitation Of Eu-
rope is contingent upon its assistance
Some OF these foreign representa-
tves have frankly expressed the view