Evening star., 1922-01-21
CAN GOVERNMENT
.JO|NW0RLDACT|ON?
|Senate's Ability to Repudiate
Raises Question of U. S.
Participation.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Can the United States government,
as at present constituted, participate
in international action?
This question is being seriously dis
cussed in official quarters as a direct
consequence of the very evident op-
position which is brewing in the
United States Senate toward the
treaties negotiated by the executive
branch of the government at the arms
conference, but 1t has a relation also
to whether the United States will be
represented at the economic confer
ence at Genoa.~ .S-ss~
Remembering that the Senate re-
fused to ratify the treaty Of Versailles
and diminished the diplomatic infu-
ence of the executive branch of the
American government. the fear is ex-
pressed that perhaps the Senate will
again repudiate the executive and
demonstrate that, whether the admin
,stration be republican or democratic,
the legislative branch of the govern
ment Is the final authority in Amer
lea on foreign affairs.
The Harding administration, taking
its lesson from the experience of its
predecessor, which negotiated the
treaty Of Versailles, covering as many
as 200 subjects, outlined simple pro-
gram for the present conference-far
eastern affairs and reduction of arma-
ment. The land armament problem
was abandoned, and the program was
still further narrowed down. Now it
looks as il those two items would
cause such disagreements as to en-
danger the ratification of the principal
treaties.
Europe Can Reverse Quickly.
What use, therefore. is it for the
executive branch of the government
to think about more international
conferences, as, for example. the one
at Genoa? A European government
which is represented in the negotia-
tions by a ministry can commit it's
parliament to approval, or it promptly
try is wrong by overthrowing it. The
action is quick and decisive. If a
ministry is overthrown, a group fails
If the executive branch of the gov
ernment is repudiated in America, the
deadlock cannot be Immediately brok-
en- by the substitution of the policy
advocated by the opponents Of the
executive. Too much time must elapse
before changes can be registered. In
ternational action under such circum-
stances Is almost impossible.
These views are. not merely aca-
demic theories by students of govern
ment, but practical questions which
are being raised every day in the dis
cussions concerning. future policy in
inl oprto of fHA
war, the question never arose. Not
until the Senate repudiated the Yer
sailles treaty did the problem grow
complex, and it is only now when the
full effects Of that action are being
quietly admitted by republicans in
prehensions about future interna-
tional cooperation are expressed.
Economic Problems Serious.
To mention political conferences OF
an international character is to scare
away any chance of American partici-
patton. Were it not for the pressing
necessity Of helping in the economic
restoration of the world, the Harding
cabinet would pursue policy of po-
litical isolation altogether, but every
day the European economic problem
grows more dangerous to Americas
economic status and the government
here Is loath to turn its back on the
Genoa conference If that meeting
should offer even the slightest chance
Of economic recovery for the Euro
pean continent.
But the program Of the Genoa con-
ference includes German reparations
and the French premier says he will
NOT discuss that. It includes discus
sion Of the status of Russia and there
is opposition everywhere to the recog-
milton of the soviet government on
political grounds. Until the political
and economic phases Of the Genoa
program are disassociated Americas
participation may be considered az
very doubtful. But untiI the conclu:
sfons of the present arms conference
are reached and it Is apparent wheth-
er the United States Senate Is again
to repudiate the executive, >the
chances are the President and Secre-
tary of State will not enter into more
International conferences.
Copyright. 1927