The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-12-30
HARDING AND
HUGHES PLAN
To Be FOUGHT
Congress- to Criticize
Proposal
BY LAWRENCE MARTIN

WASHINGTON, Dec. 30.-The ad-
ministration's plan for dealing with
the world economic crisis will be j
bitterly fought in congress.
Though the Harding Hughes propos-
al for an inter-allied commission of
experts to solve the reparations prob
lem was revealed by Secretary Hugh
es in his New Haven speech and by
Mr.. Harding himself does not con-
template any request to either house
of congress within the near future
for further legislative authority in
both houses, the plan will be criti-
cized in way calculated to arouse
public opinion against it.
Inevitably il the opinion of admin
istration spokesmen in the senate,
Mr.. Hardin, must ask for broader
grants of power from congress before
his plan can be fully carried out.
When he does this, he will face prob
able defeat, administration leaders
admitted today, unless in the meant
time the country has been won over
to his plan as the possible solution.
Republicans Angered.
The manner in which the admins
tratipn has thus far conducted its eff
forts to get in motion an economic
conference of some sort has angered
not only Democrats but some Repub-
licans in congress for these reasons:
1. Because President Harding, in
his letter to Senator Lodge on the
Borah amendment for an economic
conference reiterated the position so
often taken by presidents that the
senate should keep it's hands off for
eign affairs, until it was asked to
act.
2. Because the plan as outlined by
the various administration spokesman
is considered in congress to be an in
ternational bankers plan.
3. Because many members of con-
gress are not convinced by admin
istration denials of any intention to
approve cancellation of the allied war
debt
For this reason it would be diff
cult if not impossible to obtain amend
ment of the debt refunding act TO per-
nit extension of more liberal terms.
NEW HAVEN, Conn, Dec. 30.-The
long looked for American plan for in
tervention in Europe finally has been
officially revealed by Secretary of
State Hughes in an address here last
night.
Its outstanding feature is commits
sion of business men and experts rep
resenting the principal European gov
ernments and the United States, which
!. shall make an exhaustive study of the
reparations question.
This commission, which would be
free from instructions by premiers and
secretaries of state in order to take
the problem out of politics, would rec.
ommend a revised reparations figure
up to the limit of Germanys ability to
pay.
This recommendation then would be
submitted TO the respective govern
ments for approval. Outstanding bust.
ness men and financial experts would
be selected for the commission in the
hope that the peoples and governments
of the world would favor acceptance OF
their findings.
Should this be successful, the admin
istration would be willing to ask con
gress for easier funding terms for the
s11 900, ,000,0 900 allied debt to the United
States With the European economic
structure re-established through this
plan, this government would give its
approval to loan by private interests
in Germany.
PARIS, Dec. 30-French officialdon
today characterized the speech of Sec
retaTy of State Hughes at New HaveI
last night as an effort to influence tn.
forthcoming premiers' conference with
out taking any responsibility.
The proposals contained in tn
American secretary of states address
will be discussed here Jan. 2, it wa
declared, but will not change France
position.
1t is expected in French circles tha
England will use the outlined attitud
of the United States to bolster up l.
own policy.
1t is an injustice 70 put question
in which France has a prepondent ir
terest in the hands of an internationa
unofficial commission, however con
petent, the French claim. The guarar
tees France wants to take are not su
fcient to drive Germany to ruin a
some make out. it was declared
NuAn aAIR RNR