Evening star., 1923-01-28

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sessed by him during his recent
European trip, but deferred delivery
Of his speech until this week. Like
wise Senator Borah, republican.
Idaho. withheld Introduction of his
resolution for the President to call
an economic conference, which
measure when presented is expected
to be used as the vehicle Of debate.
Owen Starts Discussion.
Three senators. Owen. democrat,
Oklahoma; Reed. republican, Penn
sylvania, and Oddie, republican.
Nevada, none Of whom has partici-
pated actively heretofore in dis
cussions of the European situation,
engaged in yesterdays debate.
Senator Owen inaugurated the dis
cussion with a prepared address in
which he said that legal right of
France and Belgium to go into the
Ruhr to compel payment of Ger
many's defaulted reparations might
be considered a controverted question,
but that from a moral viewpoint the
invasion of Germany was without
justification.
The American people could not
morally approve the French policy,
Senator Owen said, because they saw
in 1t "the sowing Of dragons teeth,
apd the dividing of the world again
into two contending camps, where
the ultimate attitude may be another
appeal to organized military force"
Says People Would Approve.
The American people. the Okla
homa senator said. would look with
favor on any move by France
and Belgium toward inviting friend
ly nations to mediate the rep
arations controversy. He con-
cluded with a declaration that the
United States should join with the
other major powers in guaranteeing
France against invasion and that
Germany should be given a similar
guarantee and that "the world should
man people to enforce reparations"
Senator Reeds speech was in the
nature Of reply to Senator Owen,
the Pennsylvania senator criticizing
any attack on the French policy on
moral grounds. He said the repara-
tions matter had been discussed in
the Senate from both a French
and a pro-German viewpoint, but that
he preferred that the United States
maintain a neutral stand. He point
ed out that America had remained
neutral during the German invasion
Of Belgium and France in the early
days of the war and added:
Gives "soIdier.' View,
I'VE did not break into voice then
as we are doing now at an invasion
that is not attended by murder and
disregard of International law.
not stand neutral today when retri-
button is coming to those murderers
cans?"
Senator Reed, who served with tho
| American Expeditionary Forces. add
ed, with show Of earnestness. that
he was not speaking his own views
alone. but as the men who fought
in France would speak IL they were
here in the chamber" and as "the
men who died in France would
speak"
There was a default. clearly there
was a default, in tho reparations
payment by Germany" he told the
Senate. Clearly there is no inten-
ton on the part of the Germans to
pay those reparations. The bully
who staggered in 1914, 1915, 1916
and 1917 now whines because he Is
beaten. Are we going to allow our
selves to be deceived by that?"
I Revfves Parley idea.
Senator Oddie. speaking briefly, ap-
proved the French course, and after
| Senator Owen had replied to Senator
Reed the discussion was ended until
| this week.
Another development in the Senate
discussion OF international relations
/ during the day, however, was the
sending by Senator France. repub-
lican. Maryland. to Chairman Lodge
of the foreign relations committee
| of letter asking that the committee
| act on the MARYLAND senator's reso-
luton. authorizing the President to
call a conference at Washington OF
| the nations that were signatory to
| The Hague convention of 1899.
The purpose of this conference, as
| stated in Senator Frances resolution.
which has been pending for several
months, would be to consult as to
| tho best means Of bringing about a
more perfect general concert of ma
tions. the establishment OF general
Justice, the assurance of general
tranquility and the promotion OF the
] genera welfare.