San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-01-14
DEMOCRATS To
SEEK PART IN
FOREIGN POLICY
Ignored by Harding, They
Make Make Trouble
Over Allied Debts.
EXPERTS OUT IN COLD
Wilson's Advisers, Who
Know Preparations Facts,
Not Consulted Now.
EXPERTS OUT IN COLD
By DAVID LAWRENCE.
Copyright, 1898.

Washington, ID. C., Jan. 1S.-There
a political pot boiling here over the at
titude Of the Republican administra-
ton toward the Democrats in connec-
ton with reparaionS, and the foreign
policy generally.
The plant of the Democrats Is that
they are not being consulted. Wood
row Wilson was criticized severely for
not putting at least two prominent Re
publicans on the commission TO nego-
tiate peace at Paris and he was charged
with looking at foreign policy through
partisan eyes.
Now the Democrats are preparing the
came kind of bombardment against Mr..
Harding. On the al-important funding
commission, which is TO settle when the
Allies shall pay the principal and in
terest on their war debts, there are five
Republicans and no Democrats. The
leaders in Congress Of the Democratic
party are saying that Democrats helped
TO buy Liberty bonds just as did Re
publicans and that any policy which
will commit the government in the fu-
ture shall be shaped by consultation
with Democrats, too.
Democrats Are Ignored.
But that isn't all. And really this Is
what has caused the irritation. The
other day Secretary Hughes, out of a
clear sky, proposed that a commission
be appointed TO find the facts in the
Preparations controversy. This is looked
upon as a reflection on men like
Thomas W. Lamont, Norman H Davis
and Bernard NJ. Baruch and the Amer
lean economic experts at Paris who
made a thorough study Of the ques-
ton and who have since kept in close
touch with the developments and are in
a position to render advice on the in
tricate details Of the problem
Not one Of these economic experts
has been called into consultation by the
administration here and the Democratic
leaders are beginning to think the ad-
vice Of these men is being tabooed
solely because they are Democrats.
In this connection the records will
show that the figures of the American
experts at Paris on reparations are
absolutely INDICATED, not only by the
London agreement of year ago, but by
the principal items in the French and
British plans offered at Paris this week
as a means Of solving the contro,
versy.
Some of these experts are authority
for the statement that not a single new
fact has been adduced since the sub.
ject was examined at the Paris peace
conference, and that except for the po'
Gtical jockeying between the Euro
pean powers the whole thing Is Just
where II was three years ago. 1t is
pointed out that the French and Brit.
jsh now are In agreement as to the
amounts that Germany should pay
namely, the twelve billion dollars OF A
and B bonds and that the true kuar.
rel Is over the division Of the sums
that Germany will be able TO pay.
The idea that France will be able To
collect any money at the point Of the
bayonet is, of course, regarded as er.
roneous by both Democrats and Repub,
hcans who have studied the European
PREPARATION question, but there is ten
dency among some Of the Democratic
experts to be a little more sympathetic
with the French position and a little
less favorable to the British viewpoint
This may or may not be due TO the fact
that the French are sticking 10 the let
ter Of the Versailles treaty and want
the reparations commission to function
whereas the British have always en-
deavored to settle the matter at confer.
ences Of premiers and take the matter
outside the Jurisdiction of the commits
sion.
Democrats May Open Fight.
As matters stand today it would no
be surprising to zee definite lines o
cleavage develop in the Senate, not only
over the Preparations controversy, bu
over the various plans for funding III,
Allied debt. Had the Republican ad
ministration given the Democrats rep
resentation on the funding commission
as did Mr.. Harding when he appointet
Senator Underwood to the arms con
ference at Washington, the opportunit,
for partisan feeling would Of course
have been lessened. As 1t is, an
agreements reached by the funding com
mission with the British and other gov
ernments will have TO be submitted +
Congress where they must run IN
gauntlet Of partisan fire Just as di
the Versailles treaty itself.