San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-01-05
Farm Bloc Determined to
Enhance Foreign Buy
zsss,, ing Power.
WORLD TOPSY TURyY
All VIII Be Well if Harding
Approves Robinson
sg Resolution.
By DAVID LAWRENCE.
r--.--snT,s TQgg

may be upside down IN Paris as
result Of the breakup Of the confer
ence of premiers, but they are also
topsy-turvy here.
OF all the strange alignments which
have been evolved in the American Sen
ate since the war, the strangest Is
about to be disclosed. Lining up with
| the Democrats in favor of the Robin
son resolution proposing American
membership on the reparations commits
sion are many Republicans Of the So
called farm bloc. Such a coalition is
powerful enough to alter the entire
aspect of Americas foreign policy. IL
is strong enough to pass. the Robinson
resolution il, indeed, the administra-
ton should attempt 10 table the meas
| ure.
Senator Borah's resolution proposing
nm economic conference was easily kill
ed nv President Harding's letter de-
| Garing an economic conference at TINS
| time would be embarrassing, but ne
cannot saw that about American mem
bqrship on the reparations commission,
| for he himself has gone on record pub
| licIy as desiring such Membership LOT
! the United States. So has Secretary
Hughes. ~,
From the viewpoint Of tactics, Mr..
Harding's position today would have
been stronger il he had formally asked
| the Senate for passage Of resolution
| permitting American membership on
| the reparations commission. As 1t II,
there is no such formal request on
record except from President Wilson
to Mr.. Lodge, which was never acted
on.
Power From Coalition.
| The Administration wants America
represented on the reparation commits
! sion-and il has now unofficial OBJ
servers in attendance at the meetings
but il the Robinson resolution Is
passed the chief executive and Secre-
tary of State. both Republicans, will
be getting the necessary power from
coalition of Democrats and the farm
| bloc. ...
The senator's from farm states have
developed an intense interest in for
eign policy and especially the settle
ment of the reparations question. Ihey
see at last the argument made three
years ago to the effect that farm prices
4 depend largely upon Europe's power 10
| purchase American surplus products.
Mr.. Borah lined up many OF the
farm bloc senators for his resolution
on an economic conference, and many
of the same senator's will favor the
Robinson substitute, which means an
economic conference in the sense that
| the reparations commission becomes
the clearing house of the whole repara-
| tons controversy.
The Administration may throw ITS
support TO the Robinson proposal, IN
which case it would go through with
| an almost unanimous vote. IL may
even afford the way out TO the Euro
| pean powers. That is because the
| PREPARATIONS question was originally
| taken out Of the hands of the repara-
ton commission for separate handling
by the premiers and it could easily be
! referred back 10 the commission upon
| which, Of course. each of the allied
| and associated powers is represented. ;
Bankers Must Decide.
The proposal of Secretary Hughes
| that a commission of financiers be APP
| pointed TO examine the reparatlons
question would not necessarily conflict
with the work Of the Preparations COM
mission, because any loans TO be floated
| must be recommended by the private
bankers as a means Of easing Ger
| many's payments. and the wisdom or
any international loan depends upon
the burden finally imposed upon Ger
many. 1t was the reparation commis-
sion itself which invited ]. p. Morgan
and the committee of international
bankers to furnish sdvice on how the
German reparation might be financed
for the next few years.
Another phase Of American member
shin on the reparation commission IS
that the United States would no doubt
exercise a mediating influence in the
meetings Of the commission. The
American member would be subject to
instructions from President Harding
| and Secretary Hughes Just as any am
bassador is. but he would be particular
" familiar with the reparation contro-
verSy.
With the breakup OF the conference
of premiers. next steps depend upon
the Interpretation Of, the Versailles
treaty clauses relating to reparations.
| These clauses were embodied in Amer
ica's separate treaty with Germany, 80
the United States is a party 20 the
reparatiou dispute and is just as much
partner in any readluStment OF
! reparstions made BY the partnership
known as "the allied and associated
powers" as America has clsimed TO
be in the distribution OF the other
spoils of war, namely, the inundated
territories.
Need Unanimous Vote.
ANY cancellation or reduction OF Ger.
many's war debts must be approved
by unanimous vote Of the reparauon
commission. This gives the United
States an important leverage, but until.
America is officially represented. ber
influence is only relative. The trainers
Of the Versailles tresty contemplated
American membership on The repairs
tons commission. and IL is eontended
hy some critics that. il America bst
been attending the meetings and urg-
ing a settlement constantly. further
progress might have been made.
American membership on the repars-
ton commission may be DELAYED through
the substitution Of a proposal emanat-
ing from the Republican side Of The
Senate. but il is much nearer thsn 9