Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-12-28
TALK WITH HARDING

TALK WITH HARDING
The Borah amendment was dis
cussed by President Harding. it was
understood, at a conference today
with Senator Curtis Of aKnsas. as
sistant Republican leader, and Rep
resentativc MoHdelI, Of Wyoming,
Republican leader in the House.
Senator Sterling, Republican.
South Dakota, was in conference
with the President tonight, and, it
was indicated, discussed the Borah
proposal and voiced his agreement
with the views of Mr.. Harding in the
matter. No.,
No Cancellation Of Debts We
The Senate debate opened by SEN
ator Lodge, today was intense and
was attended by overlooking GAL
lerics.
Declarations against cancellation Of
European debts to America and for
Withdrawal of American troops from
the Rhine were prominent in the
discussion. Senators Lodge and Len
root contended that the Allied debts
should not be cancelled and that they
should not be brought before q con-
ference on European affairs. Return
of the American troops on the Rhine
was urged by Senators Lodge, Borah
and Reed, Democrat, Missouri, the
latter introducing an amendment to
the Borah rider Providing for their
withdrawal.
Senator Lodge based his opposition
to the Borah economic conference
proposal on the ground that it was
too broad in terms. He also contend
cd with reference to the Borah pro-
vision for a conference to secure land
and further naval armament limit
alton agreements that 1t would be
futile" in view of the failure of these
subjects at the recent Washington
arms conference and unless it was
developed that the European oppo-
sition to further disarmament voiced
at that time had changed.
Wants Limited Conference
Urging that the subjects of an eco
nomic conference be strictly limited,
Senator Lodge said:
1--WE arc undertaken gto advise the
President, who is charged with the
conduct of our foreign relations, to
take a very grave step. We do not
know what he has done in these
various directions. We do know that
he is as dcsirious as anybody possibly
can be. to improve economic condi-
tons n iEuropc and to aid those
countries toward greater business
stability. But what steps he may
have taken we do not know. 1t will
be no ones wish, l am sure, to en-
barrass him in the negotiations or
the efforts he may now be making,
and which he is now making as a
matter of fact. For that reason, as
we'll as for others, have mentioned.
we ought to set forth very care
fully exactly what we mean in the
amendment if VIC are to accept it at
ALL
Borah Gets Worked Up
Senator Borah in an iinpassioned adj
dress in bc,alr, of his proposal, declar-
Cd that Europc's economic ills had be.
come American qucstio Is through their
effect upon the economic and business
life of this country. Europe, he said.
WAS ION the brink" with another world
war, into which the United States
would be drawn if pre- sent conditions
should continue another year. The
greatest legislative body in the
world" he contcnded. could not afford
to ignore the conditions, but should
act to avert the prospective results.
Senator Lcnroot said that Senator
Borahs plan was calculated to defeat
its very purposo by delaying European
rcha bilitnt ion.
1t would raise false hopes" In. Eu-
rope. he also declared give impetus
to propaganda fer canoe llation of the
Allied debts and do a positive injury
to Europe
The debate will he continued tomor-
row with Senator johnson, Republican. =
California. planning to oppose the b.
rah amendment. Other addresses are
expected to be delivered by Senator's
McNary. Republican. Oregon. who Is
understood to favor the Borah pro-
posal, and by Senator King, Democrat,
Utah. l..