Albuquerque morning journal., 1922-12-28
| OD Ct: OPPOSES
PLAN Of DO R All
FOR CONF FERENCE
ON DISARMAMENT
Harding Already Is Negoti-
ating Toward an Interna-
tionaI Farley, MaSSaChu-
sets SoIOn States
STATE DEPARTMENT
MAINTAINS SILENCE
President May Send a Let
ter to the Senate Giving
Information as to the
Progress Being Made

Washington, Dec. 81 (by the AS
sociated Press) The first official
disclosure that President Harding
is negotiating toward an interna-
tional conference for the consider
alton of European economic prob
lens was made by Senator Lodge
of. Massachusetts, the republican
floor leader, during open debate in
the senate today on the proposal
OF Senator Borah, republican, of
Idaho, for the president to call an
international conference to discuss
economic conditions and disarma-
ment.
II In opposing the Borah proposal,
Which is in the form of an amend
fnent TO the naval appropriation
bill, Senator Lodge urged that the
president be not embarrassed in
the efforts which he is now MAX
ing as n matter of fact"
Lodge Talks One Hour
Senator Lodge, in the course or
an hours address against the Bor-
ah amendment as presented, did
not oppose the calling of an eco
nonic conference but said it
should be carefully and strictly
defined, with such questions as rep
aratlons, allied debts, and immigra-
tion specifically excluded from con-
sideration.
The state department, which has
consistently maintained silence as
TO any efforts the administration
might be making in reference to
improving economic and business
conditions in Europe, declined to
add anything to the statement of
Senator Lodge but it was learned
that President Harding was con-
sidering most seriously transmit
ting letter to the senate giving
information of his negotiations ana
at the same time deploring any
Intervention from congress which
might operate to hinder his efforts.
1t Is understood that through
tthe state department, the president
has been sounding OUT several
powers ereaafdfffg the desirability
OF holding an economic conference.
tVhether the proposed conference
would be called by or held In the
United States or whether the ma
tion would he a participant We're,
however, important details not dis
closed.
Amendment Discussed
The Borah amendment was dis
cussed for four hours in the SEN
ate. Senator's Lodge and Lenroot,
republican OF Wisconsin, speaking
in opposition, and Senators Borah
and Williams, democrat, of Mlssls-
sippi. in behalf Of the proposal NO
action was taken on the question
and further debate went over uhtll
T'he opening debate on the
amendment developed the fun
force of administration disapproval
for II as drafted, and also bi-par-
tisan support and opposition. Ad-
rninistratlon leaders mapped out q
program 10 defeat the amendment
on a parliamentary point OF order,
ff possible, and on a direct vote II
the parliamentary point should
Y Before the senate convened
about so republican senators
gathered in the office of Senator
Lodge and planned the flgnt
against the Borah proposal. 1t
was arranged that Senator Poin-
dexter, republican, of Washington,
in charge of the naval bill, should
make the point of order that the
amendment was not germane and
went far beyond the provision IN
corporated in the bill by the
house for conference to con-
sider armament limitation with
reference to naval vessels OF w.
600 tons or less and to military
and naval aircraft,
Republican and also democratic
leaders said they believed the par
liamentary point would be sus-
tained and the Borah amendment
thrown out. The republican lead
ers arranged, however, to carry
on the fight if the point should
be overruled and, as last re-
sort. propose amendments, If nee
essary, to prevent the reparations,
allied debt and other questions be-
ing considered IL the conference
should be called Senator Hitch
cock, of Nebraska, ranking demo-
crat of the foreign relations COM
mittee, and other democratic SEN
Ntors also were considering
if the Borah proposal
should be brought to a vote.
Republican leaders said they
did not believe a decision on the
point of order, which could be
overturned by majority vote,
would be appealed and declared
positively after q canvass, that
there were enough votes assured