Evening star., 1923-11-24
Criticism That He Has Done
Nothing to Draw Full
Reply.
FOREIGN POLICY CERTAIN
TOBE PART OF ADDRESS
Every Major Question Before
Country to Be Touched Upon
in Speech.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

President Coolidge in his forthcom-
ing message to Congress-he isn't
sure yet whether 1t will be d per-
sonal address or a message-will touch
on every major question before the
country today.
The President will answer those
critics who say he hasn't done any
thing or said anything of conse-
uuence since he took the oath OF
office. Mr.. Coolidge has been at
work for many weeks on the first
important communication which he
will make to the American people.
for he realizes that it Will be in a
sense his personal program, his
pledge fo- the remainder OF the
Harding term and also a campaign
platform for 1924.
Mr. Coolidge has endeavored to
follow the Harding practice of con.
Congress-he will even ask them
whether they prefer personally de-
livered address or message read
by a clerk as in the days preceding
the Wilson administration.
While taxation is n paramount is
sue, not less interesting will be
the Presidents discussion of foreign
relations Senator Henry CaGot
Lodge, chairman Of the Senate for
eign relations committee. and also
been spending a good deal of time
with Mr.. Coolidge lately. The gen
eral impression has been that the
Legislative program was being dis
Lodge ia far more interested in what
Mr.. Coolidge will have to say on for
eign relations.
Lodge Much interested.
Besides the natural inclination OF
a President to consult the chairman
OF the Senate foreign relations COM
mittee, Mr.. Coolidge has an added
reason for wishing to take Mr.. Lodge
into his confidence. as the latter is
Just as much interested in seeing a
Massachusetts man nominated for the
next presidential term as is Mr.
Coolidge.
The real point of the discussion
between Mr.. Lodge and the Presi-
dent. of course, concerns the measure
of American participation in Euro
pean affairs. Germany is on the
verge of collapse There are plans
all ready for the feeding of the Ger
man people. Congress would have
to make the necessary appropria-
tions. The Department of Agricul-
ture has statistics showing that
Germany has plenty of food on hand
but that it Is in the hands Of those
who have boarded II because they
are unwilling to accept worthless
paper money in payment. What the
Germans need is not food. but money
to buy their own harvest.
Under the circumstances, whatever
policy the United States government
may decide upon to assist In stabiliz-
ing conditions in Germany relates in
some measure to the reparations
commission. It is said that the Pres
ident feels he can do no better than
to review the recent efforts Of Secre-
tary Hughes to obtain the appoint
ment of an impartial commission to
determine what Germany's capacity
to pay would be.
The responsibility for the failure OF
that plan is not on America, but or
France, and since the exchange OF
notes and diplomatic conversations
occurred while Congress was not In
session, 1t is natural to advise both
houses of what has been done.
AS for the world court-or rather
the league court"-as Senator Lodge
prefers to call 1.-THE proposal made
by the late President Harding and
Secretary Hughes is before the Senate
foreign relations committee of the
Senate. Mr.. Lodge would just as soon
let it remain there indefinitely, as he
sees no need of precipitating party
discord at this time. But Mr.. Cool
idge cannot very well ignore the pro-
posal, and some reference from him
to the effect that it is before the Sen
ate is expected. Mr.. Coolidge is said
to be of the opinion that if the Sen.
ate can frame a substitute proposal
entirely satisfactory to it and also to
the other nations he would gladly
accept the proposal, but that in the
absence of such a constructive action
he would not like to see America
adopt a negative attitude toward the
present Court of International Jus.
tice.
In the Coolidge message undoubted.
ly will be tribute to the late Presi
dent Harding, whose death occurred
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