Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-12-29
HARDING
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but the foreign governments contend
otherwise" Senator Borah observed,
and athe president seeks TO ask au-
thority from congress to enable him to
do now what he is seeking to do
Senator Lodge once again replied
that the presidents statement. on the
question added powers for the debt
commission was intended to mean only
longer amortization and interest pay
ment periods.
Opposing the Borah amendment,
Senator Mccormick of Illinois, n of
the republican irreconcilables, de-
clared that neither the Wilson League
Of Nations which lives and langusihes,
nor the economic conference of the
senator from Idaho car break down the
economic barriers that have beer erect
ed in Europe"
He said the long succession of Eu-
ropean conferences had accomplished
little "because they seek the impos-
sible'' and added that a general Euro
pean conference might even retard Eu-
ropes recovery.
Those who supported the Borah
amendment. Senator Mccormick said
had not stated whether they favored
further advances to European nations,
He declared a conference like that
ppoposed by Senator Borah would de-
Law the negotiation of a basis of set
Element for the international debts.
He charged that Senator Borah, in
proposing the conference, had broken
away from the policy he had been adj
~yocating and that he and former Pres
ident Wilson "are now proceeding
along converging paths.
Senator Borah could not find better
company than Mr.. Wilson, Senator
Hefiin, democrat, Alabama, interject-
ed, asserting that the former presi-
dent was the greatest peace advo-
cate on earth.
."Things are drifting as the interna-
tionaI bankers want them to drift he
added, 80 they a get a strange
hold upon the business of the world
Presidents Letter
The presidents letter follows:
"My Dear Senator Lodge:
Replying to your inquiry relative
to the proposed amendment to the
pending naval bill. authorizing and re-
nuesting the president t call an eco
nomic conference to deal with condi-
tons in the war-torn nations of Eu-
rop ! write to say that / know of
no prohibition against such al express
sion on the part of the congress-, but
[ do frankly question the desirability
of such al expression. | think 1t is
undesirable because of false impress
sions which may be conveyed thereby
to Europe and eVen more undesira-
BILE because of the wrong impression
it conveys to u own people.
'On the face of things it is equiva-
lent to saying that the executive
branch of the government, which is
charged with the conduct of foreign
situation which is OF deep concern to
the United States.
AS a matter of fact the European
situation has been given more thor
ough and thoughtful consideration for
many months. Without questioning
the good faith of the proposal, / am
very sure it would have been more
seemly, and the action of the con-
gress could be taken much more intelli-
gently If proper inquiry had been ia
ken from the state department rela-
tive to the situation in which we are
trying to be helpful.
No Secrets Form Senators
"Of necessity, the communications
of the state department relative 70
delicate matters ainon~ nations can
not be bu1letined from day to day, but
the situation is z,ever withheld from
members of congress who choose to
inquire for confidential information in
a spirit of cooperation. Such in
quiry would have revealed the ~futility
of any conference call until it is UNI
derstood that such a conference would
be welcomed by the nations CON
cerned within the limits of discussion
which the expressed will Of congress
compeIs this government to impose.
.In ratifying the treaty of peace
with Germany. the senate made n
reservation that the United States
should not be represented on the re-
parations commissions without consent
of the congress and no such consent
has been given. Moreover, in creating
the world war debt funding commits
sion. that body was restricted to ex-
pIicit terms for rates of interest and
ultimate time for payment. If con
gress e to facilitate the task of
the government in dealing with the
European situation the first practical
step would be to free the hands of the
commission so that helpful negotia-
tons may be undertaken.
at is quite generally accepted that
the adjustment of the question of re-
parations must underlie any economic
rehabilitation of Europe, and repara-
lions cannot be settled without the eon-
sent of governments concerned. The
United States cannot assume to say to
one nation what it shall pay in repair
atoms nor to another nation what it
shall accept.
"In discussions with foreign govern