The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1922-12-29
Harding Virtually Asks Defeat
of Idaho Members Proposal
for Calling World Farley to
Consider Economic Matters.
Resents Any interference
AMENDMENT WILL NOT BE
ENACTED, SENATORS SAY
Calling Of Conference Would
Create Wrong Expression
Both Among Europeans and
Americans, President States.
Borah to Make Reply Today
BY Associated Press

WASHINGTON, Dec. 28.-Sen-
ate warfare over the Borah proposal
for a world economic conference
reached dramatic turning point
today when President Harding
threw the full force of the admins
tration against Senator Borah's
plan as contained in an amendment
to the naval appropriations bill and
in a letter read in the Senate vir-
tually asked for its defeat.
Another days general debate fol-
lowed, but action went over. Plans
were made for vote tomorrow, but
SO MANY more senators desired to
sneak that. with forces favoring the
Borah rider reported sparring for
time, delay over the New Years
holiday appeared possible. Defeat
Of the amendment was predicted by
administration leaders and con-
ceded, in present status of the bat
tie, by its champions.
Create False Impression
The Presidents letter was ad-
dressed to Senator Lodge, Massa-
chusetts, republican leader, and SAID
the Borah amendment would create
false Impressions TO the embarrass-
ment of what the administration al
ready was doing toward aiding Eu-
rope. Evidently drafted after consul
tation with secretary Hughes, the
communication failed to give any de-
tails of any negotiations it said
We're in progress.
Neither would White House or
state department officials divoulge
anything on the subject.
Virtually the only light came from
Senator Lodge when he said in the
Senate that cancellation of the for
dent and was not included in the me-
gotiations.
Free, Commissions Hands
A suggestion from the President
in his letter that Congress free the
hands" of the allied debt commits
sion 50 that helpful negotiations may
be undertaken" developed special
interest. Senator Lodge said author
itatively that the President meant
that time for payment of principal
and interest of foreign debts might
be extended. Senator Borah, how
ever charged that the administers
tion proposed. in effect. to cancel the
foreign debt by deferring payments
until the seventh or eighth genera
tion has passed over the Jordan"
Rumors at the state department of
the administrators activities con-
tinued of wide and varied form. One
was based on press reports from
abroad suggesting possibilities of a
Horsepower European peace pact as
a means of settlement of the repair
atoms question but this also failed
to elicit any comment in official
circles The unofficial report said
that Germany desired the United
States TO suggest such a course to the
allies, France, Great Britain. Bel
GUM and Germany to join in the
peace agreement and possibly Italy.
Many Senators Speak
While it was Impossible to get
any reaction in official quarters on
the European peace pact suggestion,
known to have been considered
abroad more than a year ago, 1t at
tracted much unofficial attention. A
possibility that it had been evolved in
Germany was suggested. Since the
three power agreement for defense of
France which would have insured
American and British support against
any German aggression. failed when
rejected in the United States. it oc-
CURED to some observers that the
United States might be selected as
the logical agency for presenting a
four power European peace plan as
an alternative
Another overflow holiday crowd
followed today's Senate debate, in
which the principal speeches were
Continued ON Page Fourteen)